Looking to keep social services in place, despite tough economic times
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – As the deadline approaches for the next fiscal year in Michigan, people are worried that we could once again see a repeat of the ugly budget battles of a few years back.
Those worries found a voice today in West Michigan.
A meeting was held Wednesday at the campus of Western Michigan University, it featured leaders from nine counties in Southwest Michigan, as well as representatives from non-profit colleges and public schools. All of them worried about a state that has so many people with needs and very little money to help.
Some business leaders have stepped forward with their ideas on how to balance the budget, primarily through cuts. That's exactly what people involved in human services don't want because they say it would balance the budget on the backs of the poor.
"Even in the best case scenario, we're looking at big cuts to human services," said Judy Putnam of the League for Human Services.
"I think there needs to be more focus on who the cuts are going to affect, because often, more than not, it's people who need the services the most, it's the most needy people, it's the people who are on the hardest times," said Kevin Lingell of the Poverty Reduction Initiative.
As Michigan wrangles with its state budget, cuts to social services seem inevitable, the group wants to avoid it, but admits their solution is politically difficult; more taxes. Raising the beer tax, which they say hasn't been touched in 40 years, and taxing services, like movie tickets as well as amusement and recreation, like golf. They also want to take Michigan away from a flat income tax to a graduated one.
"Nobody wants to pay more taxes, but a couple of cents more on some beer probably we could all live with, and I think that's the type of thing you have to find, small amounts on large quantities of things," said Jeff Brown, Executive Director of the Poverty Reduction Initiative.
"Even in good times we need to fix our revenue structure, economists realize this, it's just very tough politically," said Putnam.
One need only look inside any Michigan Works office to realize that the ranks of the needy are growing, and social service advocates say increasing revenue would be an investment in helping the poor, and the state, to a brighter future.
"Businesses can't cut their way to excellence, they don't reduce inventory and reduce investment in new processes and procedures and new expansion in order to be better," said Brown.
If a budget isn't in place by October 1st, the state could face another partial shut-down.
