© 2024 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State Could Move Budget Deadline From July 1

 Michigan capitol building at sunset
Amanda Pinckney
/
WKAR-MSU
Michigan capitol building

The state may give itself a one-time reprieve from the requirement to have a budget adopted by the beginning of July. That date aligns with the fiscal years of local governments and school districts.

 

That’s due to the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Michigan economy and the state budget.

Kurt Weiss with the state budget office says the problem is how the COVID-19 crisis has upset the state’s economy.

“The ideal scenario is to have budgets done sooner than this, obviously, so schools can know what their money is going to be, what funding they're going to have, so certainly hope this is not a new normal, but COVID-19 has just presented some tremendous challenges for the budget” said Weiss.

The state Senate approved a bill Tuesday that lifts the July 1st deadline. It now goes to the state House. 

Weiss said Governor Gretchen Whitmer supports the measure. 

“By delaying it past July 1st it gives us more time to see what the revenues will look like in August and also to see what the federal government’s going to do in regard to either flexibility in existing funding or providing additional aid to the states,” Weiss said. 

 

The most recent estimate said Michigan faces a $2.7 billion dollar shortfall in the General Fund, as well as a $1.1 billion dollar deficit in the School Aid Fund.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987. His journalism background includes stints with UPI, The Elizabeth (NJ) Daily Journal, The (Pontiac, MI) Oakland Press, and WJR. He is also a lifelong public radio listener.
Related Content
Journalism at this station is made possible by donors who value local reporting. Donate today to keep stories like this one coming. It is thanks to your generosity that we can keep this content free and accessible for everyone. Thanks!