LANSING, Mich. — Some of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's 147 cuts to the state budget will be felt locally, whether you're a Lansing taxpayer, or a NASCAR fan.
None of the cuts are final since both sides say they're still willing to negotiate. But even the small ones will have a big impact here in Mid-Michigan if they stand. Governor Whitmer said, "No one in this town should be surprised that I used every tool at my disposal to fix these budgets and protect public health and safety."
Cuts from the State Police Budget include $600,000 for traffic control at Michigan International Speedway, and $13 million to the Secondary Road Patrol Program, which helps keep Sheriff's deputies on the roads. The Governor said, "A line-item veto is not the death knell for any individual item, if people get back to the table and negotiate. I don't think that anyone should read that into it but they need to get serious."
The governor also cut $500,000 to reimburse the City of Lansing for special events at the state capitol and another $500,000 for security camera upgrades around the capitol building.
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor said he's disappointed. "We will continue to do our best to keep everyone safe and hope to work with the state to be able to help keep large events at the capitol running smoothly."
Republican leaders say all of the budget cuts are just politics on the Governor's part. Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield (R), Levering, said, "I think it's wrong to use all of them as political pawns but we're going to have ongoing conversations. She's doing this to leverage her $.45 gas tax hike which no one in the state supports."
The Governor acknowledged Republicans could let her vetoes stand, and leave those programs unfunded. She says if that's the case, it will be on them. She plans to release more details about her supplemental budget proposal Wednesday. She has scheduled a meeting with legislative leaders for Thursday.
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