(AP) -- LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan economists will huddle to come up with a consensus estimate on state government finances. Their projections Monday will help set the tone for financial decisions related to current government spending and for Gov. Jennifer Granholm's upcoming recommendations for the next fiscal year.
There's a chance revenue will fall short in the current budget year, although opinions differ among economists headed into the conference.
Bigger problems loom for the budget that begins in October in part because money from the federal Recovery Act will run out. The Senate Fiscal Agency, for example, projects a shortfall of $1.8 billion for the next fiscal year.
State economists expect Michigan's unemployment rate will average at least 15 percent this year.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
