LANSING ? Michigan legislators wacked some $433 million from the new budget, yet most of the bills sent to the governor’s desk contain more general fund spending than the budgets replaced.

That said, some budgets, such as higher education and community colleges, will see more general fund monies in their this budget year than last primarily because the state delayed paying them last fiscal year to make sure that budget balanced. Program cuts were made to every budget – prisons are to be closed, juvenile justice kids moved to cheaper private facilities and conservation officers laid off – but other changes offset some savings.

Overall, the budget totals approximately $42.8 billion (including federal funds), of which $9.9 billion comes from the general fund. In the fiscal year gross spending totaled $41.8 billion, and $9.1 billion came out of the general fund.

In her budget proposal in February, Gov. Jennifer Granholm proposed spending $42.6 billion, of which $9.6 billion came from the general fund. To do that without a deficit, the governor proposed full replacement of the Single Business Tax, a new 2 percent use tax on services and a variety of other tax exemption closures and liquor and tobacco tax increases. She also included more business tax credits, including those for commercial and industrial personal property, as well as providing a sales tax on the difference of trading in a car for a new one, which would reduce state revenues.

Earlier in the month, the Legislature and Granholm wrapped up a compromise on raising state revenues by approximately $1.4 billion and going through some cuts since the May revenue estimating conference showed the state to be $1.6 billion short in revenues to maintain current year services. The new revenues include an increased income tax from 3.9 to 4.35 percent that went into effect October 1 and a controversial 6 percent use tax on some services that will go into effect December 1.

Earlier in the year, the state completed work on the new Michigan Business Tax that will replace the Single Business Tax that expires in December.

As the budgets now await the governor’s signature, only the budgets of the Departments of Labor and Economic Growth, Natural Resources and Transportation, along with School Aid actually came in below what was spent in terms of general funds the year previous. Some budgets do reflect lower gross appropriations compared to the previous fiscal year.

The state budgets reflect employee-related economic increases, as well as changes to building occupancy charges, rent, food and fuel inflationary costs, which totaled $227 million ($147 million in general funds).

AGRICULTURE (SB 222 ): The Department of Agriculture budget sent to the governor totals $109 million gross ($31 million general fund), compared to year-to-date appropriations for of $110 million gross ($28 million general fund). The final general fund product was more than what Ms. Granholm and the Legislature had proposed.

COMMUNITY COLLEGES (HB 4360 ): The state’s 28 community colleges will get $319 million, up from $248 million (all general funds) in . The conference report was less than what was proposed by the governor and House, but more than what the Senate had appropriated with simply placeholders.

COMMUNITY HEALTH (HB 4344 ): The Department of Community Health budget of is $12 billion ($3.1 billion in general funds, compared to spending of $11 billion (2.9 billion general fund). The conference report totaled more than what everyone had proposed spending.

CORRECTIONS (HB 4348 ): The Department of Corrections budget came in at $2.1 billion ($2 billion general fund), compared to $1.95 billion ($1.87 billion general fund) in . The conference report came is than what the governor and Senate proposed, but not the House.

EDUCATION (HB 4346 ): The Department of Education budget has gross spending of $96.5 million ($7 million in general funds), compared to $89.4 million ($6 million general fund) in . The conference report was below the House and governor’s recommendations, but not the Senate.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (HB 4358 ): The Department of Environmental Quality budget is $371 million gross ($32 million general fund, compared to spending of $448 million ($31 million general fund). That was less than what the House and governor proposed, but more than the placeholders the Senate gave the budget.

GENERAL GOVERNMENT (SB 229 ): The general government budget (including the strategic fund) is $3.1 billion ($661 million general fund) while last fiscal year it totaled $3 billion ($639 million in general funds). The conference report is less than what the governor and House proposed, but higher than the Senate.

HIGHER EDUCATION (HB 4350 ): The state’s 15 public universities were awarded $1.9 billion appropriation ($1.8 billion in general funds), up from $1.6 billion in ($1.4 billion in general funds). The conference report is below what the House recommended, but more than what the Senate and governor proposed.

HISTORY, ARTS & LIBRARIES (SB 231 ): The Department of History, Arts and Libraries budget totals $49.5 million ($39 million general fund), compared to totals of $50.3 million ($39 million general fund). The conference report was below the House proposed budget, but above the governor and Senate’s recommendation.

HUMAN SERVICES (SB 232 ): The Department of Human Services budget appropriation is $4.6 billion ($1.3 billion general fund), up from $4.5 billion ($1.3 billion general fund) last fiscal year. The budget was above everyone’s budget proposal for the department.

JUDICIARY (SB 233 ): The judicial branch budget totals $259.3 million ($158 million general fund), up from last year’s spending of $258.3 million ($157 million general fund) in 06-07. The conference report was higher than the placeholders the House put in, but below the Senate and governor’s recommendation.

LABOR & ECONOMIC GROWTH (SB 234 ): The Department of Labor and Economic Growth appropriation is $1.3 billion ($46 million general fund), compared to a budget of $1.2 billion ($47.4 million general fund). The budget is below what the House and governor proposed, but higher than the Senate.

MILITARY & VETERAN AFFAIRS (SB 235 ): The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs budget comes to $129 million ($40 million general fund), compared to spending of $124 million ($39 million general fund). The budget is more than the Senate and governor proposed (Ms. Granholm wanted more general fund spending), but below the House proposal.

NATURAL RESOURCES (HB 4354 ): The Department of Natural Resources budget is $289 million ($24 million general fund), compared to spending of $283 million ($24 million general fund). The budget was above the Senate’s placeholders and governor’s budget, but less than the House version.

SCHOOL AID (HB 4359 ): The budget for K-12 schools totals $13 billion ($35 million general fund), down $900,000 from last fiscal year ($90,400 less in general funds). The budget was below the House and governor’s proposals, but not the Senate.

STATE POLICE (SB 238 ): The Department of State Police budget comes to $567 million ($274 million general fund), up from totals of $567 million ($243 million general fund). The governor and Senate proposed lower appropriations than the conference, but the report is above the House’s proposal.

TRANSPORTATION (SB 240 ): The Department of Transportation, which has no general fund dollars, is $48 million below the budget of $3.4 billion. The conference report was below what everyone had recommended.

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