Busted budgets beyond our borders; and how states are proposing to shore them up...
Michigan
Deficit: $1.4 billion
Taxes and fees
Increase permit
and state park fees
Double liquor annual licensing fees
and the 32 percent tax on tobacco
products other than cigarettes
$670 million budget cuts
School aid
Possible early parole up to 4,000
inmates
Review centralizing budget,
purchase and personnel services
and cut state government from 18
departments to eight
Impact on state employees
$28 million in wage and benefit
concessions to state employees and
1,500 state employees face possible
lay off
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Georgia
Deficit: $2.5 billion
Taxes and fees
1.6 percent levy on
hospital and health insurer revenues
to help fund Medicaid
Budget cuts
Tax relief grant program, $428
million
Basic education fund, $350 million in
2009; additional $275 million in 2010
Close four prisons and two probation
centers
Cut funds to clean up hazardous
waste sites and illegal garbage dumps
Impact on state employees
Department of Corrections to
furlough all employees, including
prison guards starting March; prison
guards and other ‘mission critical’
employees would face two unpaid
days; others would have four days
Department of Family and Children
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Connecticut
Deficit: $1.35 billion
Taxes and fees
Increase fees in more than 1,000
separate licenses and permits
(driver’s licenses, vehicle
registrations, liquor permits, fishing
licenses, etc.)
Spend entire $1.4 billion “rainy
day” fund
Budget cuts
Close 81 local probate courts
Eliminate or consolidate 23 state
agencies and 70 commissions
Impact on state employees
Cut 800 from state workforce
$570 million in concessions from
state employees
Early retirement incentive to avoid
layoffs
(This information was compiled from, "The Torch"; March, 29: Volume 3 : Number 3)
~JB3