North Michigan News

State Representative Parker Fairbairn announced on Tuesday that he has secured $14 million in state budget funding for ice storm recovery in Northern Michigan. The funding is part of a broader push for House Bill 4328, which proposes $100 million in supplemental appropriations to assist residents, small businesses, and local governments still dealing with the aftermath of the storm.

“I’m pleased to have been able to secure this initial $14 million in ice storm relief funding for our Northern Michigan communities through the state budget,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs. “There was no way I was going to let a budget deal happen without some level of ice storm relief. The Senate must end the blockade and pass House Bill 4328 and provide real relief to the 12 counties affected by the storm.”

Earlier this year, the Michigan House of Representatives advanced Fairbairn’s proposal in response to urgent financial needs following significant damage caused by an ice storm. Many communities depleted their available funds addressing property damage, debris removal, and overextended municipal budgets. Despite broad bipartisan support in the House, Fairbairn criticized the Senate for not taking further action.

“It shouldn’t take this long to get ice storm relief dollars approved,” Fairbairn said. “The House acted quickly and deliberately to secure funding. We understood the urgency, so I am shocked to see my colleagues in the Senate allow this much–needed relief to languish in committee for five months. They haven’t proposed their own plan or even offered amendments to mine; they simply set it aside and did nothing – for months – while northern Michiganders did their best to get through this catastrophe without help from the rest of the state. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re from; this delay is unacceptable and an outrageous example of poor governance.”