I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
No staff cuts or service reductions are expected in the Department of Environmental Quality as a result of the budget cuts announced by the governor today.
The department will be able to cover the $5 million reduction in general fund support through a “patchwork” of other resources, spokesman Bob McCann said, he noted that DEQ only gets 10 percent of its funding from the general fund.
The department will be able to shift funds to maintain existing levels of staff and service for the rest of this fiscal year,“ McCann said, “We wont have to see any major reduction in staffing and programs.”
He added that some funds that would normally be used for clean up may now go to cover staffing costs.
Among the areas listed for reductions:
Pollution prevention and technical assistance — $281,800; air quality programs — $210,000 underground storage tank program — $821,9000; water pollution control and drinking water revolving fund $2,196,200.
Today’s cuts did not come as a surprise to the DEQ, he said, “Our budget staff worked with the budget office to find a way to make this work.”
McCann said that the DEQ is anticipating the possibility of deepening cuts in the next fiscal year.
Funding shortfalls in the DEQ have sidelined the clean up of thousands of open leaking underground fuel storage tanks that are contaminating groundwater.
Last month the Environmental Protection Agency announced that as part of the federal stimulus package Michigan will receive $7.2 million for clean up of leaking storage tanks.
FOR FULL COVERAGE on the specifics of today’s budget cuts, see the following stories:
» With revenues down 21%, state officials announce $304 million in cuts
» Actual budget cut is $304 million, not $349 million
» Senate Appropriations Committee moves Executive Order 2009-22 out of committee for floor vote
» DEQ to weather today’s cuts without reducing services
» Michigan State Police union looking at ways to soften blow of governor’s budget cuts
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