Historic Sites Funding Caught in Political Crossfire
Island Sites in Limbo as House, Senate Haggle $1 Billion in State Budget Cuts
By Karen Gould

Historical interpreters at Fort Mackinac give presentations on military music and perform army drills and bugle calls. The fort is one of the responsibilities of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, whose mission is one of public education and historical research. The Commission also is entrusted with the care of the state’s oldest structures, dating to the American Revolution.

Mackinac State Historic Parks has become a pawn in an unprecedented three-way 2006 budget battle between the Michigan Senate and the House, and even between House Democrats and Republicans. The drama of losing its $1.5 million state appropriation escalated last week following a House of Representatives funding bill that omitted the parks’ money and Senate legislation that reinstated it.

Governor Jennifer Granholm, in February, recommended the state appropriation for the Mackinac Island agency be removed as part of a state effort to trim $1 billion from next year’s state budget.

Mackinac State Historic Parks includes Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and Historic Mill Creek in Mackinaw City.

The Senate overwhelmingly approved restoring the $1.5 million in a roll call vote of 23 to 14 Tuesday, June 14. The vote came just five days after the House failed to return the funding when it passed its state budget bill in a vote down party lines, 58 Republicans voting for the bill and 52 Democrats voting against it.

In a political system filled with intrigue and now complicated by inexperienced, term-limited legislators, park officials are worried the $1.5 million appropriation may get lost in the chaos that is sure to come as the two chambers try to work out vast differences in their budget bills.

“The House Leadership tells me they had some strategic reasons for not inserting the money at this time, reasons that largely elude me, despite my nearly 40 years experience in the legislative process,” said Dennis Cawthorne, chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the governing board for Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Mr. Cawthorne’s bewilderment is notable. He is recognized in the Capitol as one of Lansing’s most effective lobbyists and he served as a Republican in the House from 1967 to 1978, yet he is anxious as he follows the parks’ money through an erratic process.

“I am going to save it,” promises State Representative Fran Amos (R-Waterford), who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on History, Arts, and Libraries, the department in which Mackinac State Historic Parks resides. She said she has meetings and talks about the parks’ funding daily.

“I’m trying to find a permanent revenue stream to fulfill our commitment, but it will take some legislation and I don’t have it completed yet,” Representative Amos said.

She anticipates it will take a few more weeks.

“In the interim, we are doing some adjusting in other budgets where we expect to find additional money for Mackinac Island,” she said. “I’m not going to let Mackinac Island get cold.”

To complicate matters, this year’s House budget process raises even constitutional questions, as the House adopted a massive, 700-page omnibus appropriations. Traditionally, the appropriations would have been divided into 18 different bills. That’s what the Senate continued to do this year. In the past, the Senate and the House would each offer a different version of the same bill for each of those areas. Then, one at a time, in conference, they would work toward an agreement.

“There’s a possibility this one budget may have been unconstitutional,” said Representative Gary McDowell (D-Rudyard), in whose district Mackinac State Historic Parks operates.

This year, with the one House bill, said Representative McDowell, he has no idea of how the two chambers will go into conference. “I don’t know what the next step is. I don’t know if anyone knows,” he said.

Mr. Cawthorne agrees.

“Because of the two different approaches,” he said, “what happens next is uncertain. Even veteran legislative observers don’t know how the two approaches will be reconciled.”

“Democrats in the House had no input on final decisions,” said Representative McDowell, whose party was left out of the process. “It was done behind closed doors.”

Thus, the bill was approved only by the Republicans.

The bill’s format was a problem and there was little time to react or even review the bill, which was distributed to House members Tuesday, June 7, for a vote Thursday, June 9, said Mr. McDowell. House members had only one hour to debate the entire state budget, he said, and Mackinac Island State Historic Parks never came up.

“The whole process was faulty,” he said. “Democrats in the house had no input on final decisions.”

Lumping the appropriations into one large bill and allowing no time for deliberation, he contends, is a good way to hide things.

In addition to the park cuts, he said, “The bill was devastating to the Upper Peninsula.” Northern Michigan University was cut 31 percent, the Newberry prison and a prison camp in Manistique were closed, approximately 1,800 people will lose Medicare coverage in the Upper Peninsula, and some elderly people will lose their homes because the lost funding, he said.

In the Governor’s budget recommendations made in February, she suggested the Mackinac Island State Park Commission (and other agencies affected by the cuts) look for other sources of income to replace the state appropriations. In response, park commissioners have used special committees to search for such funds and have explored corporate sponsorships, private donations, federal grants, and increased or new park fees. In March, the Park Commission announced it might be able to eke out an additional $152,200 through the increased fees and earned income, but could find no way to raise the remaining $1.3 million.

This year’s total budget for Mackinac State Historic Parks is $5.7 million, which includes the $1.49 million state appropriation.

The state has allocated funds to the Mackinac Island State Park Commission since the military reservation on Mackinac Island was deeded to the state by the federal government in 1895. Before that, Mackinac Island had been designated a national park, second only to Yellowstone National Park.

Last month, during a town hall meeting on Mackinac Island hosted by Representative Amos, Mackinac State Historic Parks Director Phil Porter contended that continued funding would help build the state’s weak economy, because the parks draw tourist dollars.

“The House’s decision not to include general funding was something of a shock,” said Mr. Porter. “I know we have a number of legislators in support of the appropriation. Hopefully, the money will go back into the budget.”

“It does seem strange the House would call a town meeting on the Island, essentially giving their support, and then support a bill that contains zero dollars,” said Mr. Cawthorne.

On the other hand, Mr. Cawthorne said he was pleased with the Senate’s action on reinstating the appropriation, acknowledging that Senators Jason Allen (R-Traverse City) and Tom George (R-Portage) deserve much credit for its passage.

What happens next is unclear, said Mr. Cawthorne.

“The change in budget procedure is being chalked up to the House wanting to make a comprehensive emphatic statement, no new taxes, no new fees,” said Mr. Cawthorne.

Representative McDowell said he believes that term limits have affected this year’s budget process. Speaker of the House Craig DeRoche (R-Oakland) has a little more than two years experience. Traditionally, the speaker would have around 10 years on the job before taking on the leadership role. Term limits have made for a high turnover rate and reduced experience, said Representative McDowell.

Once agreed upon, the new budget must be signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm and will go into effect October 1. Mr. Cawthorne speculates the House and Senate will not settle on a budget until sometime in September.

“The House leadership assures me that they will insert the Mackinac Island money at some point in the process,” said Mr. Cawthorne. “As the old saying goes, ‘the proof will be in the pudding.’”

As the 56th Lilac Festival draws near its end, the events just keep getting bigger. Saturday will bring a brand new event to the Island with the first Epona & Barkus Parade. The parade will follow along the boardwalk to Windermere Point and is organized by the Mackinac Island Dog & Pony Club.

The Parade is filled with exciting breeds. Included will be Vinnie, a Husky sled dog that has raced in the Iditarod, more than 45 greyhounds, and many scout dogs to show a humanitarian side of dog rescue teams. Island dogs and tourist dogs have also been entered into the parade. More than 68 dogs have already registered, and a table will be open at noon to take any last-minute registrations as well.

What would a dog and pony parade be without the ponies? Ponies from Country Road Haflingers will be marching in the parade alongside the canines.

The theme of this year’s Parade will be “Tails of Mackinac.” Dog owners are encouraged to dress their pets in costumes to help tell some of the legends and stories surrounding the Island. Prizes will be awarded for dog and owner look-alikes and to the dog dressed in a way that fits best with the theme.

Immediately after the parade will be a Dog & Pony Show at Windermere Point. Emceed by Island comic Stu Stewart, the show will include talks by some of the dog world’s greatest stars, such as Mike Morgan of Mid-Michigan Kennels. Speakers for Paws With A Cause, K9 training, and dog sledding will be on hand as well. Other activities include photos taken by Sara Chambers, “Smooch the Pooch,” agility equipment, and a silent auction for a “Pooch Porch” and oil paintings. Pre-parade celebrations will be held at French Outpost and the Grand Hotel Jockey Club, while a post-parade party will be hosted at Mission Point Resort’s Eurogardens.

Sunday is the grand finale to the Lilac Festival. Beginning at 1 p.m. there will be a pre-parade overture in which the bands entered in the parade will perform a free concert in Marquette Park. Performances will be given by school bands, fife and drum corps, and Celtic pipes. At 4 p.m. the Grand Parade will begin, originating at Mission Point Resort and proceeding through downtown to its destination at Windermere Point.

The Lilac Festival Grand Parade is one of the largest festival parades in Michigan and is distinctive because all floats are drawn by horses. The parade hosts bands, bagpipers, clowns, veterans, scouts, floats, and carriages. This year, three pipe bands will be performing in the parade, alongside seven marching bands. A fan favorite, the Scottville Clown Band, will be returning in its old familiar place, brining up the end of the parade. All those watching the parade are encouraged to step in after the Clown Band.

Also featured in the parade will be the King and Queen of the Dog & Pony Show, and of course Mackinac Island’s own Lilac Queen and Court. Other Michigan festival queens will also be in the parade.

Many Island businesses have entered floats this year, from Mission Point to French Outpost. Dynamite the Clown will be returning to add some humor to the parade. Many of the entrants from the Barkus & Epona Parade will be participating as well.

The theme of this year’s Grand Parade is “The Lilac Fairy.” The theme is taken from a book written by Victorian author Andrew Lange. All entrants are encouraged to dress and decorate according to the theme, so expect plenty of magical lilacs at the parade.

At 6 p.m., the $10,000 raffle drawing will be held at Mary’s Bistro. The Grand Prize winner will receive $5,000, while first and second runners-up will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.