05/15/2020- A Michigan Senator from the UP is warning the state could be facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall in the upcoming budget due to the economic fallout of COVID-19 and related mandates. Senator Ed McBroom says Michigan is projected to have a $3-billion deficit in its general fund this year and that number could climb to as high as $9-billion next year. All of the state’s appropriations chairpersons have been tasked with finding 10% to 30% reductions to their individual budgets, but McBroom says that alone won’t solve the problem.
McBroom says UP legislators continue to press Governor Whitmer to move toward a regional reopening plan. He says while the trajectory of COVID-19’s impact on the UP is good health-wise, it’s having a detrimental effect on the economy.
Beyond input from lawmakers, McBroom is hopeful public pressure will motivate the Governor to loosen some of the state’s restrictions.