Latest news with #GeneralGovernment
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State contractors offer updates on new unemployment system following delays
Rep. Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) raises concerns on delays in the rollout of a new state unemployment insurance system during a June 5, 2025 meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. | Kyle Davidson As state agencies collaborate with contractors to craft a replacement to Michigan's outdated unemployment insurance system, individuals overseeing the effort offered an update on their progress, with plans to begin rolling out the system before the end of the year. The subject of those enhancements to the system were up for discussion Thursday before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. Testifying before the committee was Brett Gleason, chief of staff with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, who noted the current system is more than 10 years old and has placed limits on the agency's ability to adapt, support self-service, detect fraud and use data effectively. The agency selected the tech and strategy consulting firm Deloitte to lead the project in November of 2022, with the project costs estimated at $78 million, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press. Work on the project launched in May 2023, with the first component of the project expected to go live on Sept. 30, 2024. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX David Parent, a managing partner of Deloitte, told the subcommittee on Thursday that while the project had faced challenges with management, scope and technology, the service for employers is expected to launch in December with the claimant side of the program rolling out in May 2026. As of Tuesday, test cases in the new system were passing at a 97% rate, Parent said, with the part of the system set to go live in May logging an 88% pass rate, Parent said. With the project set to launch 14 months later than initially promised, members of the committee pressed Parent and members of the Unemployment Insurance Agency and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget on why the state requested an additional $20 million for the project despite the delays. Gleason explained that the state pays roughly $2.5 million a month to maintain the old system, and that the costs for maintaining the old system had been higher than anticipated due to the project delays. As a result, the additional $20 million would be used to maintain the current system and to cover costs for independent verification and validation services on the new system. With the Unemployment Insurance Agency paying out an estimated $8.5 billion in fraudulent claims during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Greg VanWoerkom (R-Norton Shores) voiced concern, saying the delays had cost the state millions and put its unemployment safety net at risk. Gleason said the state has pursued an aggressive timeline in crafting and implementing the new system, and that the project still fell within the four to six year timeline that is typical in putting new systems like this in place. Laura Clark, the chief information office for DTMB, also noted the new system was expected to save the agency $5 million annually.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Animal advocates want proposed Oregon bill amended to close OHSU primate center
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Animal advocates have taken a public hearing on a proposed bill as an opportunity to urge lawmakers to shut down the Oregon National Primate Research Center. The House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans held the hearing on on Tuesday. Although the measure would ban research facilities from using public funds to cover 'medically unnecessary' testing on dogs and cats, several people provided testimony on why the proposal should also call for the closure of Oregon Health & Science University's monkey research lab. Downtown Vancouver street parking could no longer be free on weekends. Here's why The facility first opened after accepting its first group of rhesus macaques in the 1960s. Since then, OHSU has reported that the primates help boost patient care by teaching researchers more about vaccines and cures for diseases like Parkinson's, measles and mumps. But in recent years, activists with groups like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and have accused the university of abusing the monkeys by keeping them confined in tight areas and neglecting to treat them when they're sick. 'One of the facts that's irrefutable about the primate center is that it has violated the federal Animal Welfare Act repeatedly year after year,' Lake Oswego resident Amy Meyer, who testified on behalf of PETA, said at SB 181's hearing. 'They cannot get it right and every violation cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture means horrific suffering and often a terrible death has happened to the monkeys caged there.' Amid the renewed push to close the primate center, its ability to care for the animals and the importance of the research. In a statement issued last month, the university emphasized that its work is heavily regulated by federal officials and there are veterinary specialists that address the monkeys' medical and dental needs. The institution has also asserted it only uses animals for research that doesn't offer an alternative option. OHA: 'Alarming' rise in syphilis during pregnancy contribute to infant health issues 'We are working toward the goal of ultimately eliminating the need for animals, and specifically nonhuman primates, to conduct research,' OHSU said. 'Despite great advances in new approach methodology, the technology to eliminate animal research isn't there yet.' Following Tuesday's hearing, the House committee has scheduled another work session for SB 181. It is slated for Tuesday, May 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Killingly's budget referendum is May 13: What's on the ballot and what's at stake
Now that the proposed fiscal 2026 budget has been accepted following an annual Town Meeting that lasted about five hours, Killingly's budget moves to a referendum May 13. Two changes were made to the budget at the annual Town Meeting May 5. The first change was to reduce the general government budget by $13,500 by eliminating town councilor stipends. That motion was approved, with 87 votes in favor of the reduction and 62 opposed. With this change, the proposed general government budget is now $23,629,755. The second change was that $1.1 million was added to the education budget. The motion to increase the education budget passed, with 117 votes in favor of the increase and 37 opposed. Now, the proposed education budget totals $49,038,817. A sample ballot was posted on the Town of Killingly's website May 6. Four questions appear on the ballot. The first question is: 'Shall the General Government Budget for the Town of Killingly, Connecticut, in the amount $23,629,755 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 be approved?' The next question is a follow-up question to the first, and asks 'For voters who voted 'NO' on Question #1a 'Is the Budget Too High?' or 'Is the Budget Too Low?' Then, the ballot asks: 'Shall the Education Budget for the Town of Killingly, Connecticut, in the amount of $49,038,817 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026 be approved?' Like the question on the general government budget, the follow-up question is 'For voters who voted 'NO' on Question #2a Is the Budget Too High?' or 'Is the Budget Too Low?' Voters in districts 1, 3 and 5 will vote in the board of education central office, located at 79 Westfield Ave. Voters in districts 2 and 4 will vote at Killingly High School. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Killingly residents can see which voting district they live in by accessing a link on the town's website. Absentee ballots for the budget referendum became available May 6. Those interested in obtaining an absentee ballot should contact the Killingly town clerk at 860-779-5307 as soon as possible. All ballots must be issued in person according to Connecticut General Statutes. According to the Killingly Town Charter, if one or both of the budgets are rejected at the referendum May 13, the town council and town manager will review the budget/budgets and present them at another town meeting, which would be held Monday, May 19. Action would only need to be taken on the budget/budgets that were rejected at the referendum. At the Town Meeting May 19, there would be a discussion and referral to another referendum. The budgets cannot be increased or decreased, they could only be adopted or rejected. The next referendum would take place on the eighth day following the town meeting, according to the town charter, which would be May 27. The subsequent referendum would have the same polling locations and hours as the initial referendum. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly budget referendum is May 13: What is at stake?
