LANSING ? Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Tuesday that she will issue an executive order to cut the state’s 2008-09 budget on May 5, but an agreement on what would be cut and by how much has still yet been reached.
Granholm met into the early evening at her Capitol office with legislative leaders and Budget Director Bob Emerson on what the agreement would include, but officials exiting the meeting said there was still work to be done.
What is also certain not be in the EO is a provision to cut the entire $785 million the state budget is short so far for this fiscal year.
Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Ron Jelinek (R-Three Oaks) told reporters that he did not want to put a number to the level of cuts that could be in the executive order because no agreement has been reached, and more research needs to be done on potential cuts.
“We need to do more research on how the numbers will affect things,” he said.
But all parts of the budget are on the table for action, he said, even though the federal stimulus money will be used to help balance the current year’s budget.
At an education summit (see related story) Granholm told attendees that the state will have to cut the important things to preserve the essential in the state’s budget.
She also indicated she has told her budget team to try to preserve those things that will help diversify the state’s economy and will help boost the number of college graduates in the state.
The required five-day notice that a budget cutting executive order will be issued was released to legislators on Tuesday.
Sources said Granholm has decided to move ahead with an EO, even without an agreement at this time, in order to keep advancing the process of balancing the state’s budget, as well as help move negotiations forward.
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