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The State has emailed layoff notices to most of Michigan’s government workers.
The layoffs that would be caused by failure to approve a new budget are far from certain, but law requires advance notice.
About 30,000 of the state’s 48,000 employees would be sent to the bench if budget negotiations fail. The rest would be kept on as essential to health and safety, including state police troopers, prison guards, and some other members of the justice system.
Michigan’s fiscal year ends September 30th. The layoffs will proceed October 1st, unless a new budget is approved, or a temporary resolution is agreed to.
Meanwhile, there’s little evidence of serious negotiation.
The Republican-led House and Senate have begun approving spending bills, with no assurance that Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer will consider them. Still, Republican State Representative Greg Markkanen holds out hope for at least some level of bi-partisan agreement…
Hear Todd VanDyke’s conversation with Markkanen about the budget and other issues in our Copper Country Today podcast.
