Michigan Budget Director Tours Food Bank as Governor's $88.1 Billion Proposal Faces Deficit Challenges

State Budget Director Jen Flood joins state Sen. Sean McCann for tour of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

Michigan's State Budget Director Jen Flood joined state Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) for a Wednesday tour of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, examining how the food assistance program faces challenges as federal pressures mount and the state navigates a budget shortfall exceeding one billion dollars.

"We are seeing the federal government pass the tab to states on some really important programs like SNAP and Medicaid," Flood said during the visit. "We wanted to come here to see sort of the work on the front."

Staff at the food bank told Flood and McCann that people they serve are having a harder time accessing SNAP benefits due to new federal regulations from the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act signed by President Trump.

"We know that families are facing rising costs, and so in the Governor's final budget, we have investments to help make sure that people maintain access to healthcare, maintain access food," Flood said.

Governor's Budget Proposal Totals $88.1 Billion

The governor's proposal includes more than $186 million in additional funds to administer SNAP, but also upwards of $780 million in Medicare funding.

"The action that Congress took last year blew an enormous hole in our budget and it also puts access to food and health care at risk for millions of Michiganders," Flood said.

On top of addressing federal pressures, the state faces a more than $1 billion decline in revenue this year. When asked if the State Budget Office was taking that into effect, Flood said it is.

"We built our budget based on those projections," Flood said. "We'll get an update in May, but the Governor's committed to leaving our state's finances in better shape than she inherited them, so we will watch closely what happens and make sure that our spending leaves us in a good place."

Legislative Process Ahead

The Governor's proposal is just one piece of the process. Both chambers of the legislature will each put forth their own vision for the state budget.

The Republicans, in control of the state House, already wary of new taxes sought by Whitmer and a $400 million draw from reserves, which they called non-starters.

"At the end of the day, we care about a lot of the same things," Flood said. "I've seen Speaker Matt Hall's comments about the governor's proposal, but he'll have an opportunity to put out his own budget and approach for solving the deficit that we're facing."

Federal Act Creating Pressure on State Programs

The federal legislation has created significant pressure on state programs. The "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act has led to new regulations affecting SNAP benefits and Medicaid funding.

Flood emphasized that the federal government is passing costs to states for programs that affect millions of Michiganders daily. The food bank staff reported increased demand from families struggling to afford basic necessities while federal regulations make accessing assistance more difficult.

State Sen. Sean McCann's Role

State Sen. Sean McCann joined Flood for the tour, representing Democratic interests in Kalamazoo County. The visit highlights the growing importance of SNAP and Medicaid in state budget discussions as federal pressures continue to mount.

Both officials walked through the food bank's warehouse, hearing from volunteers about what they're facing on the ground with families whose access to assistance is becoming increasingly challenging.

Budget Process Timeline

The legislative process continues with both the House and Senate expected to present their own budget proposals. Speaker Matt Hall, who controls the Republican-led House, is expected to release his budget approach separately from the governor's proposal.

The final budget must be passed before the legislative session concludes, with pressure mounting as the state faces significant revenue declines and federal funding constraints.

Sources:

• https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/state-budget-director-jen-flood-kalamazoo-food-bank-snap-governor-budget-funding-loaves-fishes-politics-government-michigan
• https://wkzo.com/2026/04/09/913108/
• https://itep.org/state-rundown-4-8budget-and-tax-packages-take-shape-as-sine-die-approaches-in-many-states/