WXYZ DETROIT — The clock is ticking at the State Capital in Lansing. An important deadline is looming. Our elected leaders have less than a month to negotiate, pass and sign a budget for the new fiscal year.
A $60.2 billion budget was proposed in March, six months ago! If a bi-partisan agreement isn’t reach by midnight, September 30th, state government could shut down. That would be a needless embarrassment, and a throwback to what happened in 2007 and 2009. Talk of possibly operating government on a continuation budget after October 1st, also needs to cease. Now is the time to seriously hammer out a responsible, on-time, budget for the people of Michigan.
Every day that passes is another day where Michigan school districts, which are already back in session, operate in limbo. Delays in the budget process make it difficult for Michigan departments to do long-range planning for the many services they provide. It also creates tremendous uncertainty for state workers and their families.
We’re all familiar with two of the biggest challenges facing Michigan; our crumbling roads and bridges and making our state more competitive in education. Finding adequate revenue for both, won’t be easy. But if Michigan is going to continue moving forward, these kind of tough choices and decisions must be negotiated in good faith. To strike a compromise, both sides must be willing to make adjustments in their opposing principles, and neither side will get all it wants.
There are only a few weeks left to avoid a government shutdown. If that happens, there will be no winners at all!
I’m Mike Murri, V.P. & General Manager
Broadcast: September 5 - 8, 2019
