95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senate bill would require Legislature to wrap up budget bills by July 1

pixabay.com

Republicans in Lansing are proposing more changes to the state’s budget process. New bills would require the Legislature to deliver budget bills to the governor’s desk by July first.

This is taking place as the Legislature’s Republican leaders and Governor Gretchen Whitmer are trying to improve their working relationship during a budget staredown.

       Under this proposal, the state’s fiscal year would still begin on its current date, October first. But a July first target would better align the state’s budget process with the budget deadlines of local governments and school districts. The uncertainty caused by this year’s budget standoff has been hard on a lot of programs that rely on state funding. An earlier target date to get budget bills to the governor’s desk would also leave more time to negotiate when there are serious disagreements.

       Whitmer, a Democrat, complained the Legislature waited too long to get budget bills to her desk.