New Legislation Aims to Reform Michigan’s Budget Process
The Michigan House recently passed a bill that could transform the way the state formulates its budget. The proposed legislation mandates that spending requests for the upcoming budget be submitted publicly by April each year. Failure to meet this deadline would result in the suspension of fund disbursement by state departments.
Representative Tom Kunse (R-Clare), who sponsored the bill, believes that this approach could streamline budget discussions by removing the possibility of last-minute requests. Kunse mentioned, “Now, there’s not a last minute deal. Somebody doesn’t show up in the last minute and say, ‘You know what? I decided I need this and I’m red until I get this.’ And so, I think if we put everything on the table, it’s going to be easier to deal with it. Now there are no last minute deals. In theory.”
Beyond requiring early disclosure of spending plans, the bill also stipulates that grant-receiving organizations must have been operational for at least three years and have a physical presence in Michigan for at least one year. This measure aims to address issues previously encountered, as highlighted by a recent incident.
Representative Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn), who serves as the House Appropriations minority vice chair, echoed the sentiment for reform. Farhat stated, “What it does is it shifts the way we do budgets from one-time short conversations to we have to be more intentional now. I think if you’re getting to the point where you’re a couple hours from passing a budget and you need to get a vote, and so you offer somebody a project for that, that means that budget is structurally broken.”
The concept behind the bill is rooted in the House rules set for the current legislative session, despite the Senate’s reservations. Recent state budgets have also compelled legislators to disclose their budgetary requests publicly, although these disclosures occur post-approval.
Ensuring accountability in adhering to these timelines remains a challenge. While both Farhat and Kunse advocate for a systematic way to hold future legislatures accountable, Kunse admitted the difficulty of implementing such measures, saying, “I want this to happen. I want future legislation to be transparent. I’m hoping they do the right thing and follow state law. I don’t know how to add what is the penalty and who would enforce it.”
Historically, enforcing these timelines has proven difficult. For instance, state law mandates the budget’s passage by July 1 each year, yet the Michigan House has not yet finalized any department proposals for the upcoming fiscal year.
The bill’s future remains uncertain, as it could become entangled in the ongoing disputes between the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-majority House. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) remarked, “I’ll take a look at the bill, and I strongly encourage the House to also take a close look at our FOIA legislation that’s been in their chamber for months. It’s the gold standard of transparency,” referring to pending Freedom of Information Act enhancements that have been stalled despite bipartisan backing.
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