Governor Snyder Releases Fiscal Year 2013 Budget: A First Look at Provisions Affecting Children and Youths (2/10/12)

On Thursday February 9th, Governor Snyder presented his Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal to the Legislature. Fiscal year 2013 begins October 1, 2012 and ends September 30, 2013.  Michigan's Children has taken a quick look at how the proposal will impact children and youth in Michigan.

Federal Investments Critical to Michigan Children and Families (9/7/11)

Michigan children and families have been hard hit by the recession as the number of children living in poverty continues to grow, with children of color more likely to be living in deep poverty. The percent of children living in Michigan families with earnings less than the federal poverty level increased by 64 percent between 2000 and 2009, with nearly one out of four Michigan children living in poverty. This increase in child poverty was fully three times the national average.

Investments in Early Childhood in Michigan: A Summary of Programs and Funding Trends

Read these Budget Basics reports that provide an overview of early childhood programs and funding trends, including highlights from the fiscal year 2012 budget that was signed into law by Governor Snyder on June 21, 2011.

• Early Care & Learning
• Family Income & Supports
• Health & Mental Health

Governor Snyder Signs Two Budget Bills into Law

On May 26th, 2011, the Legislature finalized the state budget for fiscal year 2012 after a speedy conference committee process. The final budget comes in the form of two omnibus budget bills – one for K-12 School Aid, Community Colleges and Higher Education (HB 4325) and one for all of the other departments (HB 4526). On June 21st, the Governor signed both bills into law with no vetoes in education budgets and limited vetoes in the other omnibus bill. However, the Governor made clear that much of the legislative intent that is included in budget bills as boilerplate language was not binding to the administration under the Constitution.

Read the Budget Basics reports for the state departments that affect children, youth and families.

• Final FY12 Department of Community Health Budget
• Final FY12 Department of Human Services Budget
• Final FY12 Education Budgets
• Final FY12 Budget: The Impact of Current Decisions on Youth

Department of Community Health Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Finalized (5/31/11)

On May 26th, 2011, the Legislature finalized the state budget for fiscal year 2012 after a speedy conference committee process.  The final budget comes in the form of two omnibus budget bills – one for K-12 School Aid, Community Colleges and Higher Education (HB 4325) and one for all of the other departments (HB 4526) – and now await Governor Snyder’s signature.  The Department of Community Health (DCH) budget is included in HB 4526 and totals $14.2 billion, including $2.8 billion in state funds.  This represents a total increase of approximately $117 million or less than 1 percent over current year spending, and exceeds the Governor’s recommended budget by $333 million.  Read this Budget Basics report for more details on the DCH budget for FY12.

Department of Human Services FY12 Budget Awaits Snyder's Signature (5/31/11)

On May 26th, 2011, the Legislature finalized the state budget for fiscal year 2012 after a speedy conference committee process.  The Department of Human Services (DHS) budget totals $6.83 billion, of which $1.07 billion is from the state’s general fund (GF).  The budget includes a stricter 48-month lifetime limit for Family Independence Program (FIP) recipients, elimination of the annual clothing allowance for most children in FIP, as well as a $1.9 million cut to the ECIC for child care quality improvements.  The budget also includes significant increases in child welfare staffing related to implementation of the Children’s Rights lawsuit and settlement.  Read this Budget Basics report for more details on the DHS budget for FY12.

Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 Finished by the Legislature (5/31/11)

On May 26th, 2011, the Legislature finalized the state budget for fiscal year 2012 after a speedy conference committee process.  The K-12 School Aid budget totals $12.7 billion – $10.9 billion from the School Aid Fund, $1.7 billion from federal revenues and $119 million from the general fund.  The K-12 School Aid budget includes deep cuts to per pupil foundation allowances, cuts in many categorical programs that target special needs areas, and an increase in the Great Start Readiness Program. Read this Budget Basics report for more details on the final K-12 School Aid budget for FY12.

Fiscal Year 2012 State Budget: The Impact of Current Recommendations on Youth (5/10/11)

FY12 budget conversations follow a decade of disinvestment in programs for children, youth and families throughout the public sector, mitigated temporarily by an influx of federal economic stimulus dollars.  Proposals from the Governor, House and Senate each include large cuts for schools, after-school programs and other supports for young people.  Read our latest Budget Basics report on the status of budget conversations and how they will impact young people in Michigan.

K-12 School Aid Budgets for Fiscal Year 2012 Move to Conference Committee (5/6/11)

Read this overview of the School Aid budget for fiscal year 2012 as passed by the House and the Senate. Both budget bills include deep cuts to the per pupil foundation allowance, complete elimination or reduction of many categorical programs, and cuts to Intermediate School Districts. The good news in the School Aid budget is the Senate passed budget bill includes a $6 million increase to the Great Start Readiness Program - Michigan's preschool program for at-risk four-year-olds.

Read our latest Budget Basics report on the School Aid budgets as passed by the House and Senate and how it will impact Governor Snyder's Dashboard indicators.

Investments in Early Childhood in Michigan: Fiscal Year 2012 Highlights (4/27/2011)

Read this overview of the early childhood provisions of the state budget as recommended by Governor Snyder, as passed by the Senate, and as passed by the House Appropriations Committee for fiscal year 2012.  Early childhood provisions at-risk include the Healthy Michigan Fund, child care subsidies for unlicensed relatives and aides, and family preservation programs.  For a detailed report on the budget and how it will impact Michigan's youngest citizens, read this Budget Basics report.

Department of Human Services Fiscal Year 2012 Budgets Move Forward (4/22/2011)

On Wednesday, April 13, 2011, the House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Human Services (DHS) approved its version of the fiscal year 2012 budget for DHS. The House Subcommittee's $6.86 billion budget ($1.07 billion state general fund) for FY12 includes an additional $30 million reduction to general fund (GF) spending below the Governor's recommendation.  The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the FY12 DHS budget on April 21, 2011.  The Senate Committee's budget totals $6.7 billion, $152 million below the Governor's recommendation of which $114 million is from the general fund.  Read this Budget Basics report on how the two budgets will impact children, youth and families.

Appropriations Subcommittees for the Department of Community Health Approve Fiscal Year 2012 Budgets (4/15/2011)

On Wednesday, April 13, 2011, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Community Health (DCH) approved its version of the fiscal year 2012 budget for the DCH.  The budget approved by the Senate Subcommittee included $13.83 billion in total spending, including $2.64 billion in state general funds.  The following day, the House Appropriations Subcommittee finalized its fiscal year 2012 budget for the DCH.  The budget approved by the House Subcommittee included $13.92 billion in total spending, including $2.68 in state general funds.  Read this Budget Basics report on how the two budgets will impact children, youth and families.

Michigan’s Governor and Legislature face extraordinary challenges as they attempt to address Michigan’s economic and fiscal problems. As the rest of the country begins to emerge from a deep recession, Michigan continues to struggle with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and a projected budget deficit in fiscal year 2012 of approximately $1.8 billion, with no expectation of significant new federal dollars to help balance the budget.

On March 23, 2011, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 School Aid met to take public testimony on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year (fiscal year 2012).  Senator Howard Walker, the Chair of the Subcommittee, presented his draft recommendations for fiscal year 2012.