Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office vetoed 147 Budget Line items totally almost $1 Billion in budget cuts for Fiscal Year 2020, starting October 1, 2019.
Unfortunately, the $150,000 CLMP funding line item was cut from the budget, even in view of full support for CLMP funding by both the Michigan House and Senate. There were other major vetoes in the EGLE/DEQ operating budget. For a full list of line item vetoes, follow this link, with special attention to page 2:
https://mymlsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FY-2020-statewide-veto-list.pdf
MLSA had planned for possible adverse results, and has several options going forward to continue the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program (CLMP) for 2020.
Right now it is best for the “dust to settle” for a few days, and then we can move forward to determine which of our contingency plans provide for the best situation moving forward.
The Board of MLSA is disappointed in the line item veto, but we are not discouraged in that the second longest Citizen Scientist/Volunteer Monitoring Program in the USA will continue.
Stay tuned to this MLSA eNEWSLETTER for the latest about CLMP and all things Riparian. MLSA remains the voice and action leader for all matters involving Michigan’s Lakes and Streams. To share your thoughts, or for more info, contact us at info@mlswa.org.
Submitted by: Paul J Sniadecki, MLSA Board Director