LANSING – Two major, controversial budgets, those for the Department of Human Services and the general government budget that contains revenue sharing aid to local governments, passed the Senate late this afternoon. But the technology friendly 21st Century Jobs Fund Would be slashed by $46.5 million.

Under the general government budget, SB 245, passed on a party-line vote 21-17, revenue sharing aid to cities, villages, townships and counties would be cut by 11.06 percent.

Although the cut approved was not as deep as the 13.1 percent cut for cities, villages and townships initially spelled out by the target agreement between Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop and House Speaker Andy Dillon, it would still represent a sharp reduction of $73.8 million from the current 2008-09 fiscal year. Counties under the original agreement would have seen a deeper cut, 14.3 percent.

In other moves within the general government budget, the conference committee retained funding for the State Fair as well as adding another $500,000. Governor Jennifer Granholm had called for discontinuing state support of the fair.

And the 21st century jobs fund would be cut $46.5 million.

The Department of Human Services budget (SB 248) passed on a 20-17 vote as Sen. Bruce Patterson (R-Canton Twp.) joined all 16 Democrats in opposition, came out of conference committee with fewer overall cuts than originally anticipated and with some programs restored.

The budget provides $5.9 billion gross, an increase from the $4.95 billion current appropriation, and $860.3 million general fund, a cut of $361 million from the general fund amount initially adopted for the current year.

But the budget as reported includes full restoration of the Family Independence Program; restoration of the day care assistance program, though with a change in the funding formula; and an increase in the Food Assistance Program.

The budget did cut 100 administrative staff and eliminated the Nokomis Challenge Center in Prudenville.

Earlier, conference committees approved bills for the two budgets.

SB 245 was approved on the minimum two votes from each side of the committee. Rep. Fred Durhal (D-Detroit) the House chair of the conference voted against the proposal as did Sen. Deborah Cherry.

For DHS, the conference committee reported the budget with only Sen. Martha Scott (D-Detroit) dissenting.

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