To provide the “template” or “place holder” for a Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Department of Environmental Quality budget. This bill contains no appropriations, but may be amended at a later date to include them.   Official Text and Analysis.

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

To adopt a version of this budget that expresses the fiscal and policy preferences of the Republican-majority in the Senate on various spending items and programs. For details see analysis from the non-partisan Senate Fiscal Agency.

To strip out a provision prohibiting the DEQ from regulating wetlands use in counties with fewer than 100,000 people until a detailed state wetland inventory required by statute as a condition for such regulation provides more detailed information than the current version, which has been criticized as not meeting the legislative intent.

The Senate version of the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Department of Environmental Quality budget. This would appropriate $368.7 million in gross spending, compared to $370.8 million, which was the FY 2007-2008 amount enrolled in 2007. Of this, $44.8 million will come from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues), compared to the FY 2007-2008 amount of $31.7 million, and $173.9 million is from other state sources including debt, fees, royalties, etc., compared to $182.2 million in the previous budget.

To replace the Senate-passed version of this budget with one that expresses the preferences of the House majority on various spending items and funding sources. For more see the House-passed version, and for detail see analysis from the non-partisan House Fiscal Agency.

To require the DEQ to create a small business environmental ombudsman office.

To prohibit any DEQ license, permit or other fee increases during the FY 2008-2009 budget year.

To establish that the Department of Agriculture will administer the "Michigan agriculture environmental assurance program" regulations on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), rather than the DEQ.

To impose a 5 percent across-the-board cut in the amount proposed for the DEQ operations budget, with the department to figure out what specifically to reduce below the previously proposed spending level.

To require the DEQ to post a user-friendly website showing all its expenditures and the purpose of each.

To require the DEQ to develop a staff savings initiative program that would reward employees who suggest cost savings by giving them 10 percent of the amount saved.

The House version of the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Department of Environmental Quality budget. This would appropriate $368.4 million in gross spending, compared to $370.8 million, which was the FY 2007-2008 amount enrolled in 2007. Of this, $45.0 million will come from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues), compared to the FY 2007-2008 amount of $31.7 million, and $173.3 million is from other state sources including debt, fees, royalties, etc., compared to $182.2 million in the previous budget.

To give the bill immediate effect.

To concur with a House-passed version of the bill. The vote sends the bill to a House-Senate conference committee to work out the differences.

The House-Senate conference report for the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Department of Environmental Quality budget. This would appropriate $363.9 million in gross spending, compared to $370.8 million, which was the FY 2007-2008 amount enrolled in 2007. Of this, $44.4 million will come from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues), compared to the FY 2007-2008 amount of $31.7 million, and $170.0 million is from other state sources including debt, fees, royalties, etc., compared to $182.2 million in the previous budget. The budget funds a DEQ ombudsman to be employed by the legislative council to respond to complaints of regulatory abuse by the agency. For budget details see House Fiscal Agency analysis.

The House-Senate conference report for the Fiscal Year 2008-2009 Department of Environmental Quality budget. This would appropriate $363.9 million in gross spending, compared to $370.8 million, which was the FY 2007-2008 amount enrolled in 2007. Of this, $44.4 million will come from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues), compared to the FY 2007-2008 amount of $31.7 million, and $170.0 million is from other state sources including debt, fees, royalties, etc., compared to $182.2 million in the previous budget. For budget details see House Fiscal Agency analysis.