House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee Moves Budgets

The House Appropriations General Government Subcommittee met early this week while the Legislature is on Spring Break and moved budgets for several of Michigan’s departments, some a bit more controversial than others.

At the top of the list was House Bill 4220 which, similar to other budget policies moved in recent weeks, ties a portion of statutory revenue sharing funds for local units to whether or not labor contracts have been renewed. This is viewed by some as an attempt to avoid the right-to-work law. Under the bill, which passed on a 4-2 straight party-line vote, one of the three requirements for a city, county, township, or village to obtain funding from the Economic Vitality Incentive Program is not to enter into a new labor contract between December 10, 2012 and March 28, 2013 unless the contract would save more than 10 percent.

Republicans have claimed that many public employers, including universities, community colleges, cities, etc. have rushed to renew labor contracts or sign new contracts prior to the March 28, 2013 effective date of the right-to-work law passed late last year.

The subcommittee also passed budgets for:

The Department of Treasury: $2.70 billion, a 1.1 percent decrease from last year, including $4 million to the Pure Michigan campaign and a 50 percent cut in the film incentive program funding from $50 million to $25 million.

The Department of Technology, Management & Budget: $1.2 billion, an increase of $21 million over last year (1.8 percent) but still $22 million less than the Governor’s recommendation.

The Legislature: $119.9 million, a $4.7 million increase (4.1 percent) over last year.

The Department of Civil Rights: $14.6 million, including new operational reporting requirements and a requirement that the Department notify the Legislature and State Budget Office before submitting a complaint to the federal government.

The Department of State: $218.9 million, a $1.7 million decrease (.8 percent) from last year.

The Auditor General: $21.7 million, a $2.7 million increase (14.6 percent) over last year.

The Attorney General: $89 million, a $3.9 million increase (4.6 percent) over last year.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, March 29, 2013 9:48 AM
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