Michigan has faced repeated budget crises, which have included deep cuts in services and two brief government shutdowns in less than five years--in fact, fiscal year 2009 was the ninth consecutive year of budget deficits in Michigan.

Of great concern is Michigan's structural deficit, partly caused by an outdated tax system that relies on revenues from a now diminished manufacturing economy, and from tax policy decisions made by lawmakers. The result: too few revenues to cover basic state services, cumulative deficits in excess of $10 billion since 2001, and deep cuts in spending for services for vulnerable children and families.

Michigan cannot afford to wait for an economic recovery that will not solve its structural budget deficit and children can ill-afford efforts by state leaders to continue to cut their way out of Michigan's fiscal problems.

Read more in our latest Budget Basics: A Call to Action: Michigan's Next Generation Jeopardized Without Resolution of State's Structural Deficit and learn how you can help ensure that Michigan solves its budget problems and puts children and familes first.