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What happens when Michigan's state government shuts down

Posted at 1:50 PM, Sep 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-24 13:50:03-04

The state is officially a week away from a government shutdown, but Democrats and Republicans seem hopeful that a partial shutdown can be avoided.

October 1st is the state’s first day of it’s new fiscal year. If a deal isn’t reached by then, roughly two-thirds of the state’s employees would be temporarily laid off.

Governor Whitmer had initially said she would veto a budget that didn’t come with dedicated road funding, but has reversed course — that said, she had strong words for Republicans that left Lansing to head to Mackinac Island for a Republican leadership conference over the weekend.

Asked whether a government shutdown was likely for a taping of this week’s Spotlight on 7 Action News, Republican State Senator Pete Lucido and Democrat Representative Christine Greig both doubled down, saying they believed a shutdown would be avoided.

That said, we’re a day away from notices being sent to all vendors doing business with the State of Michigan that payments will not be made after midnight on September 30th, unless a budget agreement is reached — that means plenty of state services will shutdown, including construction on roads.

Here’s a look at a few of the things that would stop if a shutdown happens, according to the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget:

  • All state road construction projects would stop.
  • All MDOT welcome centers, and 77 rest areas across the state would be shutdown
  • State parks and forest campgrounds would no longer be open — this includes Belle Isle
  • Secretary of State offices would be shutdown
  • State lottery games would cease
  • No student financial aid payments will be made to universities, or community colleges
  • Liquor Control Commission would stop reviewing/accepting retail orders for spirits
  • Revenue sharing with local government (including school budget money) would stop.

It’s important to note that the last government shutdown happened it was 2009, and it only lasted 4 hours.