The Senate version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004-2005 Department of Community Health budget. (Note: Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s proposed budget for this department is Senate Bill 1036 .) This appropriates $9.637 billion in adjusted gross spending (including restricted fund and federal dollars), compared to $9.417 million, which was the FY 2003-2004 amount enrolled in 2003. Of this, $2.974 million will come from the general fund (funded by actual state tax revenues), compared to the FY 2003-2004 amount of $2.561 million. Medicaid spending rises $229.5 million over the previous year. The Senate version authorizes approximately $95 million less gross spending than the governor recommended, but $500 million more general fund spending, mainly because it does not include some $400 million in new tobacco tax and estate tax revenue proposed by the governor. Much more information on Michigan’s budget is available at Hot Topics: Michigan’s Budget Challenge at www.mackinac.org/4964.