Mayor Vetoes Lansing Budget - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

With the stroke of a pen Mayor Virg Bernero vetoed the Lansing City Council's budget proposal Thursday.

The veto doesn't come as a big surprise. The mayor has been very outspoken about his problems with the budget proposal.

In a word, Bernero calls this budget proposal 'irresponsible.' He's said it's made of 'funny money,' and that approving a plan like this would only increase the city's deficit over the next few years.

The root of this disagreement comes from how much money the Lansing Board of Water and Light should contribute to the city.

BWL has offered to give five percent of their revenue back to the city for the next five years, but the proposal submitted by the council was based off receiving $1.5 million dollars more than what that rate would bring in.

"We have to do things differently. We can't be in denial about the state of the economy. Look around, there's a reason we have a deficit in this year's budget. There's a reason we're projecting a deficit for next year's. The economy here has not yet turned," said Mayor Bernero.

City Council has 14 days to override the mayor's veto, which would require the vote of six council members.

Calls to Council President Brian Jefferies about what he plans to do next were not returned.