Insider Intelligence

This week, Governor Rick Snyder announced the appointment of former Representative and House Appropriations Chairman Al Pscholka as the state’s Budget Director.  He will take over the position when John Roberts leaves in mid-February for a private-sector position.  Until then, Mr. Pscholka will work with Mr. Roberts as the Budget Office prepares to present the […]

Today, Governor Rick Snyder announced the resignation of John Roberts as the State Budget Director, a role he has served since his appointment by the Governor in March 2014.  Mr. Roberts is returning to the private sector in February.  “I’ve known John for 18 years and will greatly miss working with him.  Throughout his tenure […]

On Wednesday, Governor Rick Snyder asked the Michigan Supreme Court for an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of a section of the school aid budget appropriating general fund dollars to reimburse certain state-mandated expenses incurred by private schools.  Under the school aid budget recently signed into law, $2.5 million in general fund dollars may be […]

This week, Governor Rick Snyder signed the budgets providing funding for the upcoming 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.  The education omnibus budget totals $16.1 billion in funding for K-12 schools, community colleges, and state universities.  The budget includes an additional 2.9% of universities and 1.4% for community colleges.  Additionally, it increases K-12 appropriations per pupil funding by […]

This week, the House and Senate gave final legislative approval to the two omnibus budgets providing appropriations for the upcoming 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.  Late additions to the budgets included fourteen capital outlay projects at some public universities and community colleges. Additionally, the chambers approved supplemental funding for the Flint Water Crisis, including funds to begin […]

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 […]

Yesterday the House passed a two-bill package repealing an annual auto insurance tax credit, which cost the state $80 million per-year.  The credit is available for catastrophic claims where the injured does not have insurance and was made available due to a mistake in legislation passed in 2012.  The elimination of the credit is part […]

This week, the House and Senate began naming members to serve on the conference committees for each of the budgets for the upcoming 2016-2017 Fiscal Year.  Both chambers have passed their own versions of the budgets and will now come together to work through their points of differences to reach an agreement.  Conference committees consist […]