This week the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees reported the remaining budget bills to the full Appropriations Committees.  This concludes the first step in the budget process for the upcoming 2017-2018 Fiscal Year.  “The House and Senate Appropriations Committees seem to be on track to report their budgets with full chambers taking action on the budgets within the next two weeks.  Following the May 17 consensus revenue estimating conference, they will adjust budget spending where necessary and come to agreements through conference committees.  Should they remain on their current path, the budget should meet the stated goal of being completed towards the early part of June,” explained Sean Mann of MLC.

Highlights of the budgets as reported by the subcommittees include:

Agriculture and Rural Development (Senate):

• Double Up Food Bucks – Does not include executive budget recommendations for $680,000 to Flint and $750,000 to expand the program throughout the state

Corrections (Senate):

• Reduces current fiscal year spending by $41.6 million
• $40 million below the executive recommendation
• $3 million pilot program aiding inmates to complete high school
• Doubles funding for Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit’s successful Flip the Script prison diversion program.

General Government (Senate):

• $75 million below executive recommendations
• Does not include a contribution into the state’s rainy day fund, as called for by Governor Snyder

Health and Human Services (Senate):

• Doesn’t include $6.8 million for the Heat and Eat program the Governor recommended
• Includes a $100 placeholder for implementing the Mental Health and Wellness Commission’s recommendations, the Governor included $22.1 million in his recommendation

Health and Human Services (House):

• Totals $25.2 billion
• $120 million lower than the executive budget recommendation
• Creates physical and behavioral health integrated service model pilot in Kent County

Technology, Management, and Budget (Senate):

• $77.5 million below the executive budget recommendation
• Reduces funding for cyber security improvements
• Reduced the executive budget recommendations for various one-time funding proposals by $66.4 million

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.