Detroit Evening Report: Whitmer, state Democrats pitch $180 relief checks for Michigan taxpayers

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed Monday that every Michigan resident who files a tax return get a $180 inflation relief check.

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Whitmer — along with Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and Speaker Joe Tate — rolled out the Lowering MI Costs Plan, which would deliver the largest tax break to Michiganders in decades.

The plan rolls back the retirement tax, boosts the Working Families Tax Credit, and delivers rebate checks to every taxpayer.

The checks could arrive as early as this spring, which would cost the state about $800 million.

“Too many families are seeing inflation cut into their monthly budgets,” Whitmer said at a press conference. “We want to help.”

The checks would come from the state’s general fund. Currently, Michigan has a surplus of $9.2 billion — $5.1 billion from the general fund and $4.1 billion from the school aid fund.

Michigan GOP members criticized Whitmer’s proposal, claiming it doesn’t go far enough to evenly apply tax relief to all taxpayers.

“Frankly, when the state is sitting on a $9 billion surplus, we should be doing more than handing out a one-time annual rebate check that equals 49 cents per day,” Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township) told The Detroit News.

Other headlines for Feb. 6, 2023:

• City of Detroit awards $1.3 million in grants to small businesses
• State Sen. Sarah Anthony to reintroduce bill expanding ban on hair-based discrimination
• Downriver Linked Greenways Trail System receives $4M federal grant

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