BY RICK PLUTA
Michigan Public Radio Network
It appears the state is in for a windfall of a few hundred million dollars that could help plug some budget holes. Improving tax revenues are good news for Governor Rick Snyder and the Legislature's Republican leaders as their June first budget deadline approaches.
Members of the governor's cabinet and legislative budget experts are about to adopt a number that they'll use to wrap up the budget. And early projections suggest the state could be looking at a windfall, maybe in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars.
The state's economic measurements remain mixed. Michigan still has one of the nation's highest jobless rates. But Governor Snyder said improving revenue is evidence of confidence in the state's economy.
"It's better to have more resources than less, so I think it's a good sign, the Michigan economy continuing to be strong and coming back."
The governor said more revenue could also help the state draw down more federal transportation dollars, or be used to cover a Medicaid shortfall.
Copyright 2013, MPRN