Appropriations Summary |
Actual[189] |
Recommended |
Savings |
|
|
|
|
Interdepartmental Grants: |
$1,267,700 |
1,267,700 |
0 |
Federal Funds: |
$1,920,000 |
1,025,000 |
$895,000 |
State General Fund/General Purpose: |
$16,214,500 |
12,143,000 |
$4,071,500 |
Special Revenue Funds: |
$147,157,600 |
139,430,400 |
$7,727,200 |
|
|
|
|
Gross Appropriation: |
$166,559,800 |
153,866,100 |
$12,693,700 |
The Michigan Department of State (MDS) is the oldest department in the state government. The department conducts programs and services in four major areas: traffic safety and motor vehicle related activities; overseeing statewide elections; maintaining many state and local governmental records; and operating state historical programs.
In the case of the first three areas, there is little that the state legislature can do in the next fiscal year to vastly improve its performance via streamlining, zeroing out, and privatizing programs--although there may be dramatic steps that can, and should, be taken in this direction over a longer period of time.
But in the case of the last area--historical programs--there is room for dramatic improvement. The state should immediately cease all operations in this area, since these programs should be handled by private sector institutions.