LANSING – The $25 million appropriation the Michigan Legislature approved for the 21st Century Jobs Fund should go to pay for the state’s “Pure Michigan” advertising campaign, instead of dipping into last year’s surplus, House Republicans said Tuesday.
Governor Jennifer Granholm has said the state took in $100 million more than expected during the fiscal year that ended September 30, mostly from increased income tax collections, and $25 million of that should be used to boost the advertising for a nationwide buy.
House Republicans said the surplus isn’t set in stone, which is why the state should tap the jobs fund instead.
“Governor Granholm wants to write a check based on income that isn’t there yet and may never be, that the next governor will have to pay. If Pure Michigan is a priority – and I think it is – let’s pay for it with money we already have; use the 21 Century Jobs Fund for 21st century tourism jobs,” said Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham), the lead Republican on the Appropriations Committee.
The last time the state ran a full ad campaign was during the 2008-09 fiscal year. This year’s fall Pure Michigan ads were dropped.
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