CASCO TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – When state lawmakers return to Lansing in earnest next month, dealing with the budget for Fiscal 2021 will probably be at the top of the “to do” list at the Capitol.
Legislators will be staring at a $3 billion hole in the spending plan, due mostly to the economic impact of the COVID 19 outbreak. While state budget director Chris Kolb hasn’t endorsed a tax hike to cut into that deficit, he hasn’t ruled it out completely, especially if federal relief funding doesn’t come from Washington.
Republicans such as Mary Whiteford, chair of the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, doesn’t agree with Kolb’s assertion that there isn’t enough “fat” in the state budget to cut in order to balance the books.
“I am totally against raising any taxes,” she said on “WHTC Talk of the Town” during her monthly appearance on Monday. “I think that we tighten our belts, we work closely with our departments (to) find out where there’s wiggle room, and there are ways for us to get us out (of this financial hole) and do right by people.”
Lawmakers should get a better picture of the state’s financial situation during a consensus revenue estimating conference next week in Lansing.
