Perhaps summer reruns aren’t over just yet:
Once again, Michigan’s state budget is in crisis, a scant week before the new fiscal year.
And once again, Michigan’s legislative leaders have proposed gutting transit funding (and revenue sharing and scholarships and everything else) to try to balance the budget without considering any new revenue.
Specifically, House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (without the Governor) have reportedly agreed on $1.2 billion in cuts to state funding, including a $20 million cut to the transit fund (the CTF).
However, these cuts are not final! We’ve got a few days to convince them not to gut transit funding!
I’ve got a bold proposal – contact your state legislators and ask them to raise your taxes! If a small increase throughout the state can maintain critical services like local buses, parks, and police, and keep our state from a devastating downward death spiral, I’m willing to pay it. How about you?
please contact your state legislators today!
Push them hard! And if they’re with you, ask them to push hard on their leadership.
Our friends at the Michigan Municipal League have several helpful tools for finding and contacting your state legislators, although you’ll want to shape your own message to include the importance of transit.
And thanks!