This week conference committees began reporting budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.  In addition to committee members coming to agreement on differences between the House and Senate versions of each budget, many budgets saw their overall funding decreased due to the lower than projected state revenue.  “Budgets were cut from original projections due to lower than estimated revenue.  While several areas will receive increased funding, for many budgets the increase will be lower than originally anticipated,” stated Sean Mann of MLC.

Below are the highlights of the reported budgets:

Attorney General

• $5.6 million for costs associated with litigation stemming from the Flint water crisis

Department of Agriculture

• Overall funding would increase 8.7% from the current fiscal year
• $1.5 million for rural development grants
• An additional $300,000 for the food safety program

Department of Corrections

• The Pugsley Correctional Facility will close
• A $100 placeholder for potentially leasing a new corrections facility
• Funding to train 730 new correctional officers
• An increase of $1.5 million for the County Jail Reimbursement Program
• $1.5 million for the Goodwill Flip the Script Program

Department of Education

• $200,000 for the department to hire a chief information officer
• $4.5 million for lead tests in school buildings

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

• Funding for four additional positions at the Michigan Agency for Energy
• $2 million to the Michigan Automated Prescription System for vendor support and additional positions
• $1.6 million for the Liquor Control Commission to upgrade its IT system

Department of Technology, Management, and Budget

• The conference committee didn’t include the request for $7.5 million to finish moving state offices in Lansing

Department of Transportation

• $100 million for infrastructure improvements, assuming the legislature approves releasing the funds from the Road Innovation Fund

General Government

• Nonconsitutional revenue sharing for Cities, Villages, and Townships (CVT), will remain at the current fiscal year levels
• $1 million increase to Pure Michigan and the 21^st Century Jobs Trust Fund
• A 1.9% increase for the executive office
• 4% increase to the legislature

Higher Education

• 2.9% increase for operations
• 4.2% tuition restraint
• Universities exceeding the tuition cap wouldn’t be eligible for Capitol Outlay funding from the state

Judiciary

• $250,000 reduction to the Swift and Sure Sanctions Program
• $1.3 million for the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission to hire 10 additional full time employees
• $700,000 for the State Appellate Defender’s Office to comply with the Supreme Court decision regarding juveniles sentenced to life without parole

K-12 Schools

• The overall budget would increase 1.9% from the current fiscal year
• An increase of $60-$120 in per pupil funding
• $72 million to Detroit Public Schools, if their current property tax levy is diverted to debt repayment
• $10.1 million to aid with the Flint Declaration of Emergency
• $9 million to the CTE Early/Middle College program, a reduction of $1 million

State Police

• Funding for 65 recruits in the upcoming Trooper Recruit School
• One-time funding of $2.2 million for a Smart 911 program

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