Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MICHIGAN -- Governor Jennifer Granholm's spending proposal for the next budget year suggests a variety of ways to balance the books.

To help make up the $1.4 billion shortfall in the next fiscal year, the governor has proposed cuts in corrections, K-12 and higher education, community and human services.

But, this is just what the governor proposes; legislators will also have a say on what gets cut and what's saved, although that process will likely not be an easy one.

"Most people would say education is a very important investment in our state.  I think most people would say that we need to have a a good transportation system," says Rep. Steve Lindberg of the 109th District.  "The trick is how to pay for these things when you don't have enough money.  There's going to be disagreement where we can best invest those dollars."

"It's one of two things, you either have to do these cuts or you have to raise taxes," says Rep. Judy Nerat of the 108th District.  "People aren't much for that because a lot of people don't even have a job, and even if they do, living expenses have gone up so much and their wages haven't gone up to meet the skyrocketing costs of things; so that only leaves us with having to do cuts."

Both representatives agree that any cuts will be painful.