Senate Republicans Add More Heat
As the likely budget battle between Republicans in the Michigan Senate and Governor Jennifer M. Granholm (D, MI) begins to gather strength, the Republicans have added more heat to it. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday heard from representatives of the three state departments who violated the state Constitution by overspending their budgets from the previous year to the tune of $69.1 million. The committee is chaired by Michigan Senator Ron Jelinek (R-21, Three Oaks).
Testimony was given by the Michigan departments of Corrections, Human Services and State Police to explain why more money was spent than allocated during fiscal year 2005-06. The departments also were questioned about reporting the overspending because Michigan law clearly states the Legislature be informed immediately of any overexpenditures. However, while the fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, 2006, it took until Nov. 21 for the Senate and House to be notified.
Unfortunately, the overexpenditures not only affect the previous fiscal year, but also the current fiscal year by adding nearly $70 million to Michigan’s budget deficit.
For FY 05-06, overexpenditures totaled $69.1 million, broken down by departments in the following way:
- Department of Corrections, $19.6 million
- Department of Human Services, $42.9 million
- Department of State Police, $6.6 million.
Although overexpenditures have occurred in the past, three departments have not overspent at the same time since 1998 and overexpenditures have not neared the current dollar amount since fiscal year 1991-1992.
