By AP
LANSING, MI –
Michigan lawmakers are wrestling with their toughest decisions related to a new state budget scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
Both the Republican-led Senate and Democratic-led House are in session Thursday. Lawmakers are working to erase a budget deficit projected at $484 million before next week's deadline.
Budgets for public schools, prisons and a few other departments are wrapped up.
Lawmakers still must decide whether to include a retirement incentive package for state workers in the final plan. The plan could raise around $60 million for the state but is opposed by union leaders.
Lawmakers also need to finish state aid budgets for universities, transportation and human services.