Michigan budget cuts hit police ranks

Lansing -- Public safety took a body blow in the list of $304 million of budget cuts ordered by Gov. Jennifer Granholm and approved by lawmakers Tuesday.

The reductions delivered a double whammy to law enforcement across the state as 100 State Police troopers will be laid off by July 1 -- bringing the troop strength to 968, the lowest in at least 40 years -- and $41.4 million was lopped from revenue sharing, which pays for police and fire protection and other municipal services. The number of local police officers is down more than 2,000 -- or 9 percent -- since 2002.

Besides the layoffs, some State Police posts will trim back on patrol shifts and troopers will be forced to cut miles, perhaps by as much as 40 percent as they did in 2007 -- likely slowing response to calls.

James Hutchinson, a 25-year-old rookie trooper assigned to the Lansing post, was one of dozens of troopers standing outside the room where the cuts were being outlined Tuesday morning. They all wore blue T-shirts with the Michigan State Troopers Association emblem.

"It's disappointing to see this happen, especially since I just started," he said. "I'm really worried about the citizens and public safety. There will be a lot less troopers on the road."

Hutchinson said he'll probably look for law enforcement work in another state.

Aside from wiping out the 2008 trooper recruit school, the layoffs also will take 18 from the previous trooper class of 2004.

Also facing layoffs will be 300 other state employees, and 38,000 will be ordered to take six unpaid days off this summer which, if coordinated across state departments, would effectively shut down government periodically.

"This is a horrible thing I present to you. Very little will go without some harm in this state," state Budget Director Bob Emerson told a joint meeting of the House and Senate appropriations committees.

"This may go down as the Cinco de Mayo massacre," added Rep. Lee Gonzales, D-Flint.

The budget cuts are aimed at erasing a $1.3 billion deficit in the state's general fund, which saw an unprecedented 21 percent reduction in revenues due to the national recession and the crippled auto industry. About $1 billion in federal stimulus money will be used to balance the books.

This is the second time in this fiscal year that Granholm has had to make executive order cuts to balance the budget. She ordered $134 million in cuts in December. And the state doesn't foresee a better situation in the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Budget officials expect the 2009-10 budget to be $1.6 billion in the red.

Elsewhere in the recession-rocked budget, health care services for the poor will be substantially pared back. Medicaid payments to hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and others will be reduced by $53 million, which will cut access for patients because fewer health care providers will continue to offer services to the poor. In addition, Medicaid treatments, including dental, chiropractic and podiatric services, will be eliminated and many other health programs will be scrapped or trimmed.

Emerson and state Treasurer Bob Kleine said they don't envision having to come back this year for more cuts -- but they didn't rule it out.

"We can't guarantee it, but our best estimate is we will not have to come back here and do this again," Emerson said.

But, he added: "This doesn't predict, which is not out of the question, a total calamity in the auto industry."

Kleine said a worst-case scenario -- for example, Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. go into prolonged bankruptcy -- could mean another $300 million hit on this year's budget.

The $41.4 million cut in revenue sharing to cities, villages and townships amounts to about one-third of the two payments remaining in this budget year. Detroit will lose $7.37 million.

Livonia Mayor Jack Kirksey said his city will lose $340,000 and cuts in public safety would only come as a last resort.

"It's a kick in the teeth," said Kirksey, adding that he'll work to avoid layoffs and will ask employees to take 2 percent wage concessions. "This is money that is really attacking our ability to provide quality services."

Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski said the cuts are a "betrayal" on the part of state officials that will likely take a toll on police and fire services.

"The state is balancing their budget on the backs of their cities," she said. "It hurts state government if cities can't survive or provide a viable and attractive quality of life."

While Granholm said protecting the state's safety net was a top priority, these cuts at least frayed the net. There are a record 1.7 million Michiganians on Medicaid -- a number that swells by 11,000 each month. The 4 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursement to health care providers will force layoffs throughout the hospital industry, which has 1,800 fewer employees than it did a year ago, said health care professionals.

"During this time of economic crisis, we are deeply disappointed that despite the human toll elected leaders decided to cut -- once again -- the health care community, which serves our most vulnerable citizens," said Spencer Johnson, head of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

Added Sharon Parks, president of the Michigan League for Human Services: "This is a major assault on the safety net."

mhornbeck@detnews.com">mhornbeck@detnews.com (313) 222-2470 Detroit News Staff Writers Christine Ferretti and Christina Rogers contributed.