Michigan Governor Weighs $88 Billion Budget as Kalamazoo Food Bank Staff Warn of SNAP Access Crisis

State Budget Director Visits Loaves & Fishes to See First-Hand What SNAP Means for West Michigan Families

State Budget Director Jen Flood and state Sen. Sean McCann toured Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes to understand the impact of new federal regulations on food assistance programs

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Michigan's State Budget Director joined state Sen. Sean McCann for a tour of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, talking about what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's proposal will do to keep the SNAP food assistance program funded.

Both officials walked through the food bank's warehouse, hearing from volunteers about what they're facing.

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

The staff at Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes told Flood and McCann that the people they serve are having a harder time accessing SNAP, pointing to new regulations from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"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.

Whitmer's $88.1 Billion Proposal Includes SNAP Funding

The governor's proposal totals $88.1 billion. Included is 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."

Republican Opposition to Tax Increases Looms

The Governor's proposal is just one piece of the process. Both chambers of the legislature will each put forth their own vision. The Republicans, in control of the state House, are 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."

Another sticking point in the process is likely to be House Republicans' preference for cutting taxes, according to sources familiar with the situation.

What This Means for West Michigan Food Banks

The Loaves & Fishes food bank serves communities across Kalamazoo County and surrounding areas. The organization provides groceries, meal services, and other assistance to thousands of residents who struggle to make ends meet.

According to staff at the food bank, new federal regulations have made it more difficult for families to enroll in SNAP and for current recipients to maintain their benefits. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has introduced stricter work requirements and documentation rules that have created administrative burdens for both clients and local agencies.

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

Budget Process Still Underway

The State Budget Office is working with the governor's office to finalize the budget proposal. Both the House and Senate will need to approve their respective budgets before they can be reconciled and sent to the governor for signature.

The final budget will determine whether Michigan can maintain current levels of funding for SNAP and other assistance programs, or if additional measures will be needed to offset the revenue shortfall and federal pressures.

"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," Flood said.