Government Relations Update

February 11, 2008

Governor Presents Budget

Last week Governor Granholm presented her proposed budget for FY2009 to a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committee.The budget totals over $44.8 billion, up 2.9% from last year.There are no proposals for tax increases to come to that figure, but does include some debt refinancing and bonding for projects.

Agricultural extensions and certain college scholarships were not targeted for elimination, unlike in previous budgets. Public schools are slated to receive per pupil increases and dollars to close the funding gap between schools.A state trooper academy class is proposed in the mix, the first since 2004.The Governor has asked the legislature to approve $1.4 billion in new capital outlay expenditures for higher education and transportation projects through bonding.

The budgeting process is not without concern.Some lawmakers point to fiscal agency reports showing future spending pressures of over $400 million for FY2010 and beyond, marking the need for additional reforms to fend off these future shortfalls.

Both House and Senate appropriations subcommittees are meeting on their respective budgets, with the hope of coming to consensus much quicker in the year than this past year’s budget battle.

State Department Telephone Book Online

The State of Michigan has placed its state telephone directory online.The directory contains every single state department, commission, agency or division’s phone number as well as direct dial numbers to most state employees working in each department.The directory is broke down by department, so click on the appropriate department then find the division of interest.Mailing addresses of each department are also listed in the book for written correspondence.Click here to go to the directory:www.mi.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--113777--,00.html