MichMash: Experts Weigh Michigan’s Piggy Bank, Setting Stage for Divided Government

Cheyna Roth and Jake Neher put their two cents in.

Michigan State Capitol building on a cloudy day

WDET Digital

The state will have more than $24 billion to work with as it gets ready to kick off its budget process in 2019.

That’s the finding of economists and state officials as they met at the state Capitol on Friday during the latest Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference.

General Fund revenues are down a bit compared to last fiscal year. New Budget Director Chris Kolb says those revenues have been largely flat for many years, despite inflation.

These conferences happen on a regular basis in Lansing. But the timing of this one makes it especially significant.

As part of the weekly series MichMash, Jake Neher and Cheyna Roth talk about the political implications of this budget estimate.

Click on the audio player above to hear that conversation.

Authors

  • Cheyna Roth
    Cheyna has interned with Michigan Radio and freelanced for WKAR public radio in Lansing. She's also done some online freelancing and worked on documentary films.
  • Jake Neher
    Jake Neher is senior producer for Detroit Today and host of MichMash for 101.9 WDET. He previously reported on the Michigan Legislature for the Michigan Public Radio Network.