LANSING, Mich. – One of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's line-item vetos cut the Pure Michigan campaign funding completely, and that decision has many worried about the future of tourism in the state.
In her budget, Whitmer allocated $31 million for the Pure Michigan campaign, which was a $6 million increase. The budget sent to her by legislators allocated $27.5 million. She used a line-item veto to cut funding completely.
Pure Michigan began in 2006 with a $13 million budget, and studies have shown Michigan is increasingly getting a bang for its buck. In 2006, Michigan got more than $2 back for every $1 spent. By 2017, the state's return on investment was up to $8.33 for every $1 spent.
Local 4 has been told the governor is hopeful the funding will be restored once both sides get back to the negotiation table. The Pure Michigan campaign was a bipartisan expenditure with both former Gov. Jennifer Granholm and former Gov. Rick Snyder fighting to keep it and increase it at times.
Watch the video above for the full report from Local 4 News at 5.