Livingston Today

House Appropriations Chair Ann Bollin has expressed support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s recent proposal to involve the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) in monitoring earmarked grants awarded through Michigan’s state budget. Bollin, a Republican from Brighton Township, indicated that this development could signal broader cooperation on efforts to expand oversight, including legislation she is preparing that would require the OAG to audit economic development grants from the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) fund.

“I am glad the governor now recognizes how important it is to have the Auditor General involved in reviewing state spending,” Bollin said. “If she supports this kind of accountability for budget earmarks, I hope that means she will also support my plan to strengthen oversight of the SOAR fund. The Auditor General is one of our most important tools for making sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”

Bollin contrasted the governor’s current position with her previous recommendation last year to reduce the Auditor General’s budget by 28 percent. “I am hopeful this change of heart means the governor is finally taking the issue seriously,” Bollin said. “State government clearly needs more oversight.”

Governor Whitmer’s new approach includes capping annual earmarks and increasing OAG involvement in oversight. However, Bollin pointed out that House Republicans had already moved earlier in the year to reform how earmarks are managed. Under her leadership, they introduced measures designed to improve transparency in budgeting practices, ending previous methods where direct grants were added with minimal documentation or explanation.

“House Republicans were the first to take real action this year to shine a light on how earmarks are handled,” Bollin said. “We made the process more transparent so that legislators and taxpayers can see exactly where the money is going and what it is being used for.”

Bollin emphasized that transparency and accountability remain priorities for her office. “Whether it is a grant to a local nonprofit or a multimillion-dollar incentive to a major corporation, people want transparency and accountability,” she said. “The reforms we have implemented and the oversight we continue to pursue are focused on restoring public trust and making sure every dollar is used effectively.”