The Michigan media has been a-swirl about the sorry state of Michigan's state budget for the 2007 fiscal year. Below are a collection of articles from newspapers and blogs about some of the major aspects. We'd also like to hear any thoughts you might have in the comments!
Night Dome (Revisited) by MichSt
Michigan's $800-million deficit stokes more debate over cuts, taxes
State finances have worsened -- this year's deficit is now pegged at more than $800 million -- as Gov. Jennifer Granholm and lawmakers prepare for perhaps their grimmest year of budget planning, with deep cuts in programs or hefty tax increases as their only apparent options.
State's school districts on edge over threat of midyear cuts
Thursday's grim news for Michigan's public schools may have been expected, but it was still not easy to swallow: A gaping hole in the state School Aid Fund could mean midyear cuts of up to $224 per pupil, possibly putting more districts in financial peril. (those who are keeping score at home might recall a much touted $210 increase during campaign season)
Taxing Questions & an interview with Craig Theil
Jack notes that although you don't make frivolous purchases when your household money is tight, you don't decide that you aren't going to feed the baby for a year to save money. He also talks with fiscal analyst Craig Thiel.
Tax Time Twist and Shout: No real answers from the pundits or the Pubs
For my amusement only takes a hard look at the rhetoric coming from conservative pundits and concludes that although there is a lot of twisting and shouting going on, there is little in the way of actual solutions being advanced.
Skubick: Budget panel boosts critics
From the other side of the aisle, Tim Skubick calls "the budget" the Governor's equivalent of Bush's Iraq and wonders why she waited until after the election to form a panel that will likely recommend tax increases.
What Are They Thinking?: Think Tank Says Raise Michigan Beer Taxes
From the "Nothing Sacred" department, Rick Lyke notes that if the beer tax was indexed to keep up with inflation, Michigan would go from collecting $44 million from suds sales to $240 million (an increase from 2 to 10 cents a bottle). The Michigan Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association note that consumers also pay the 6% Michigan sales tax.
3 Comments
I hope to be the "Anti-Skubick" someday.
Heh.
Our Michigan Budget Blog at the Port Huron Times Herald tracks the goings on and is worth a read:
http://forum.thetimesherald.co.....php?t=9363
We've got a new link for budget tracking:
http://forum.thetimesherald.co.....hp?t=13936
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