LOCAL/STATEThe Michigan Daily - Thursday, October 4, 2001- 5A
State Senate takes $300M from rainy day fund
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LANSING (AP) - The Michigan Senate will
immediately pass a bill taking $300 million out
of the state's "rainy day" fund for school aid, the
Senate majority leader said yesterday.
"We agree with the governor that '03 will be a
very difficult year," said Majority Leader Dan
DeGrow (R-Port Huron). "We want to protect
'02 for education, which is our number one pri-
ority.
"We live in very uncertain times today. It
could get worse. We hope it does not."
When the state holds its revenue estimating
conference next week, DeGrow said he expects
state budget officials to announce that the state
School Aid Fund is short about $300 million in
the 2001-2002 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.
DeGrow said the withdrawal from the bud-
get stabilization fund would leave the fund
with $700 million, to be used only in tough
economic times.
"We're going to have some, difficult times
down the road," DeGrow said.
He said Senate Appropriations Committee
Chairman Harry Gast (R-St. Joseph) will seek
cuts of between 5 percent and 10 percent in
departments' budgets for the fiscal year which
began Oct. 1. He said the state is about $473 mil-
lion short in its general fund for the current fiscal
year.
Gast said the state is being hurt by its adoption
of multiyear budgets, which depend on accurate
revenue forecasts for a year or two in advance.
"We can't project into the future," Gast said.
Senate Democratic Leader John Cherry (D-
Clio) noted his party has long advocated the
use of the budget stabilization fund.
"It seems as though the Republicans are a
late arrival to this party," he said.
State Rep. Marc Shulman, chairman of the
House Appropriations Committee, said he
thinks the Senate's budget proposal is prema-
ture considering a revenue estimating confer-
ence is scheduled for Oct. 12.
Shulman, a Republican from West Bloom-
field, said he's sent a letter to members of the
House Appropriations Committee asking them
to begin looking at cutting budgets. He says
appropriations subcommittees will begin meet-
ing on the state budget shortly after the revenue
estimating conference.
Security frenzy
Airports concerned with lack of
travelers; security cost increases
LANSING (AP) - Michigan airport executives
said yesterday they're worried about paying more for
increased security costs at a time when fewer travel-
ers are flying.
"It's a vicious circle we've got to get ourselves out
of," Jim Koslosky, aeronautics director of the Gerald
R. Ford International Airport, told the state House
Transportation Committee.
Airports are spending more money to comply with
new security requirements from the Federal Aviation
Administration following the Sept. I1 hijackings of
four commercial flights. At the same time, airlines
are cutting down on flights because fewer people are
flying.
Daniel Kerber, deputy director of Detroit Metro-
politan Airport, said he expects the airport's costs to
increase by $500,000 for new security measures.
Meanwhile, he estimates concession revenue is down
50 percent.
Kenneth Potts, director of the Kalamazoo/Battle
Creek International Airport, said .he's afraid the air-
port eventually will close because of the economic
hit its taken since the attacks. He said he doesn't
know what the airport will do after its financial
resefves run out in a year.
"If the public does not use it, we will lose it," Potts
said. "We've said it before, but it has a lot more
meaning now."
Airport executives also pointed out that airlines
provide the security at passenger checkpoints. Exec-
utives said they're worried about the high turnover of
security guards who monitor travelers and luggage.
"We would all like to see airlines improve securi-
ty," Koslosky said. "I would say it's the weakest
link."
Members of the Michigan National Guard will
begin reporting to duty at Michigan's 16 commercial
airports today at Detroit Metro. The FAA were train-
ing guard members yesterday and today before they
report for duty, Brig. Gen. Robert Taylor told the
House committee.
Guard members, who will be armed with 9 mm
pistols, will be monitoring and reinforcing check-
point security, Taylor said.
BRELNDAMN U0UUINNLLL/iII
This note posted in the window of Harry's Army Surplus Store on East Liberty
Street illustrates the rising measurers of security being implemented nationwide.
OPENS FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 12!
I I Finding your calling. Losing your way.
Sometimes it pays to rocrastinate!
tr
$10 Rush Tickets on sale 10 am - 6 pm
the day of the performance or the Friday
before a weekend event at the UMS Ticket
Office.
50% Rush Tickets on sale beginning
90 minutes befdre the event at the.
Performance Hall Box Office.
11, M- n 931 1.IRRi9 s "1/ a '.:e53 ..l.
MR W~
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