LANSING – Governor Rick Snyder proposed construction of a new State Emergency Operations Center as part of the Department of Technology, Management and Budget’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget recommendation. Kurt Weiss, spokesperson for the department, said the old facility is no longer as secure as the department would like.
“The funds would be to build a better facility in a different location,” he said. “A new and improved state operations center would make it so we can better respond to state emergencies.”
The new facility, which would cost $20.2 million, would be located at the State Secondary Complex in Windsor Township, southwest of Lansing. The current facility is located in southeast Lansing.
Snyder also proposes continuing the major investment begun in the 2012-13 fiscal year in the state’s aging information technology systems, recommending another $47 million for the 2013-14 fiscal year, the same amount allocated for the previous fiscal year.
Overall, the budget contains $1.19 billion ($405.9 million general fund). That’s a 3.8 percent increase (0 percent change General Fund).
The proposed percentage increase for fiscal year 2014 includes increases for Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB) and other unfunded retirement costs of 4 percent for the current fiscal year 2013 and 2.4 percent for fiscal year 2014, the proposal specifically noted. And those costs pertain to employees only, as current members do not receive pensions or retirement health care.
Per the governor’s proposal, the House of Representatives would account for 44 percent or $63.4 million ($63.4 million General Fund)of that budget, and the Senate 27 percent, or $39.36 million ($39.36 million General Fund). Legislative Council is slated to receive $16.4 million ($16 million General Fund) and the Legislative Retirement System accounts for $4.5 million ($3.4 million General Fund).
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