Calling it a 50-state problem in need of federal help for the solution, Governor Gretchen Whitmer is urging the U.S. Senate and President Trump to act to help states fill massive budget holes created by COVID-19. Whitmer also laid out her budget priorities Thursday afternoon, with education funding at the top of the list along with funding for public safety and worker protection as more of the economy opens up.
“There are no easy solutions here,” said Whitmer. “There will be hard choices, but I am eager to work with the Legislature to advocate for the support that we need from the federal government.”
Budget director Chris Kolb says facing a $6.2 billion loss for this and next fiscal year, the budget hole is not something that can be fixed by cuts.
“The state’s rainy day fund currently stands at just over $1.2 billion,” said Kolb. “Even is we used every single penny in that fund, we won’t be able to solve or close our budget problem.”
Kolb says another revenue estimating conference will be held this summer and says it likely won’t be possible for the Legislature to have a budget passed and sent to the governor by July 1 as required by law due to the COVID-19 uncertainties.
