Key takeaways
- Michigan state government spent $85.8 billion in fiscal 2024, the 10th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the DTMB Central Procurement Services, and vendors register and find bids in SIGMA Vendor Self Service.
- The fiscal year starts Oct. 1; the governor's FY2028 budget proposal usually comes within 30 days of convening.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn Dec. 31.
- A new governor, Jocelyn Benson, takes office Jan. 1, 2027.
Michigan government at a glance
| Fact | Michigan |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $85.8 billion (10th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | Oct. 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028 · proposal usually within 30 days of convening |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 13 to Dec. 31 (353 days) |
| Governor-elect | Jocelyn Benson, takes office Jan. 1, 2027 |
| Central procurement office | DTMB Central Procurement Services |
| Bid and vendor portal | SIGMA Vendor Self Service |
| State CIO | Eric Swanson, Acting Chief Information Officer |
| Local governments | 2,860 total, including 437 special districts and 567 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 40 public power utilities and 10 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 32,986 (end of 2023) |
How Michigan buys
- Central purchasing. The DTMB Central Procurement Services handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. SIGMA Vendor Self Service is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Michigan vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | $5,000 or less |
| Informal quotes | Over $5,000 to $50,000: at least 3 written quotes |
| Formal solicitation | Over $50,000 (RFP or ITN) |
Source: DTMB Procurement Policy Manual, Ch. 5. Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Michigan's fiscal year starts Oct. 1. The next budget covers FY2028.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released Within 30 days of convening. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn Dec. 31. Meets throughout the year. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
- New administration. Governor-elect Jocelyn Benson takes office Jan. 1, 2027. New administrations often bring new agency leaders and priorities; see new governors in 2027.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Eric Swanson, Acting Chief Information Officer, leads the Department of Technology, Management and Budget. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, no laws and 1 agency policy on government AI use. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Michigan
The biggest Michigan entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | City | 649,095 residents (2025) | 26 of 100 largest cities |
| Wayne County | County | 1,769,038 residents (2025) | 19 of 100 largest counties |
| Oakland County | County | 1,288,337 residents (2025) | 34 of 100 largest counties |
| Macomb County | County | 886,221 residents (2025) | 68 of 100 largest counties |
| Detroit Public Schools | School district | 48,536 students (fall 2021) | 94 of 100 largest districts |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Public university | 52,855 students (fall 2024) | 21 of 40 largest |
| Michigan State University | Public university | 52,089 students (fall 2024) | 23 of 40 largest |
| Detroit Metro Wayne County | Airport | 16,294,768 passengers boarded (2025) | 18 of 100 busiest |
| Gerald R Ford International | Airport | 2,127,668 passengers boarded (2025) | 71 of 100 busiest |
| Detroit Water and Sewerage Department | Water utility | 633,218 people served | 49 of 208 largest |
| City of Grand Rapids Water | Water utility | 273,005 people served | 135 of 208 largest |
| Lansing Board of Water & Light | Public power utility | 99,649 electric customers (2024) | 32 of 50 largest |
| Detroit (MI) Police | Police department | 2,250 sworn officers (2016) | 15 of 50 largest |
| Oakland County Sheriff's Office | Sheriff's office | 781 sworn personnel (2016) | 16 of 50 largest |
| Michigan Department of Health and Human Services | State agency | About $40.5B FY2027, all funds budget | 9 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 2,860 local governments. That includes 437 special districts and 567 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 40 public power utilities and 10 electric cooperatives serve 659,631 customers, 13% of the state. See Michigan utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Michigan buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
Found a broken link or something inaccurate? We keep this page up to date. If a link doesn't work or any information here is wrong or out of date, report it by email to research@kensingtonsalesgroup.com and we'll fix it.