By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-937321.mp3
LANSING, MI –
Governor-elect Rick Snyder has turned to the budget chief of Utah to head up his budget team. We have more from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta.
AUDIO:
John Nixon has been the director of the Utah's Office of Budget and Planning since 2006. He's credited with helping to craft a state budget for Utah that dealt with a revenue crash this year without raising taxes, and coming up with a plan to stabilize school funding after Utah's federal stimulus money for education dries up.
Nixon also developed a scorecard that measures the effectiveness and efficiency of state government agencies. And he implemented a four-day work week or state employees as a cost-saving measure. Governor-elect Rick Snyder said in written statement that Nixon brings the skills, experience, and innovative thinking he's looking for in a budget chief.
Nixon is stepping into a much bigger job. Michigan's budget is four times the size of Utah's, and is facing a budget shortfall in the coming year of at least one and a half billion dollars.