State Rep. Rylee Linting gained support for several public safety investment plans for Downriver communities within a state budget agreement that respects taxpayers and funds critical needs.

Included in the proposal headed to the governor is over $1 million in funding for a new fire engine for the City of Riverview Fire Department and $1.9 million for a new ladder truck for the city of Wyandotte. Riverview’s existing engine was placed into service nearly 20 years ago and has experienced steadily increasing maintenance costs and reliability concerns due to age and wear. Wyandotte’s existing ladder truck would be nearly 30 years old by the time a new truck would be delivered and is beyond the end of its reliable service life. Linting’s requests would help the departments as they respond to emergencies and perform day-to-day responsibilities.

Linting also secured $222,000 for updated police radio equipment for the city of Southgate.

“These investments will help our courageous first responders as they work to protect our communities,” Linting said. “Public safety is paramount, and aging equipment can put that in jeopardy. I was happy to work with local officials throughout the budget process on these plans and I will always stand up for the needs of our area.”

Linting also fought for needed education reforms within the budget to help improve child literacy rates, including a program that will train educators in science of reading curriculums and a cap for reading curriculums at 15 to ensure uniformity for students. The School Aid budget increases per-pupil funding by $250 to $10,300 per student, features $50 million in new funding for tutoring to help struggling students, and maintains mental health and school safety funding. Linting and House Republicans successfully secured additional funding for teacher bonuses, dual enrollment, bus services and other resources.

Overall, the budget agreement Linting voted for protected against $800 million in tax increases that were previously proposed by the governor. The budget also continues to eliminate “ghost” employees – state government positions that are funded but rarely filled – which was a focus of the current fiscal year budget. The governor had proposed adding roughly 1,000 new taxpayer-funded bureaucrat positions.

Linting highlighted continued support for workforce development programs like Going Pro and affordability measures within the budget plan. This includes new protections against hedge funds and private equity groups buying up houses en masse, which increase costs for new homebuyers and create housing availability concerns, and provisions that require the Michigan Public Services Commission to provide clear explanations to the Legislature when evaluating utility rate increases. The commission has approved $1 billion in rate hikes on utility customers since 2023. Linting said this new layer of oversight will help address rising energy costs for families.

“When I went to Lansing to be a voice for our Downriver communities, I wanted to rein in out-of-control government spending on the backs of hardworking taxpayers and make state government accountable to the people it represents,” Linting said. “This budget promotes responsible spending, transparency and reforms to make life more affordable.”