by Steven Davy and Mike Presley

Big decisions

Lansing gets a lot of attention when it comes to the budget. Rightfully so, as the capital of Michigan the decisions made in Lansing are felt across the state including just three and a half miles down the road in East Lansing.

Budget cuts announced

Wednesday officials from the Michigan Municipal League called on state lawmakers to halt a proposed $162 million in cuts from state revenue sharing for the 2009-10 budget year. If approved, the cuts would reduce revenue sharing by approximately $733,000 for East Lansing and $2.2 million for Lansing.

Translating the cuts

For East Lansing budget cuts could mean fewer fire and police officers on the streets. The cuts could also impact funding for parks, libraries and social programs.

In the video below, East Lansing City Manager Theodore Staton discusses what the cuts to the budget might mean for the city.

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Michigan State News Extra

See more our conversation with City Manager Theodore Staton.

The recession hasn’t been as hard on East Lansing, but it still hurts.
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Tight budgets have a direct impact on emergency services.
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What gets cut? The choices are difficult.
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