Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad was in Lansing Tuesday as Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered an address calling on state lawmakers to approve a budget before October 1 deadline.

In her speech, Whitmer said uncertainty is hindering Michigan’s ability to attract investment, and the causes are tariffs and the budget stalemate. She said it’s also threatening education, road repairs, and residents.

Mayor Muhammad told us it was a “melancholy” address, and that’s why everyone needs to keep talking.

“The approach I’ve tried to use is always be optimistic, but you have to temper the optimism with realism, and that’s why we’re here,” Muhammad said.

If a budget’s not approved and the state government shuts down, what will that mean for Benton Harbor?

“You have the education budget, which will impact not just in our area schools, but all schools. The other big issue is state share revenue where sharing revenue with municipalities, it’s not solid. That would affect all of us.”

Muhammad said he met Tuesday with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and several state lawmakers to spread the message that no deal will be a total failure for all Michiganders.

Meanwhile, state Senator Aric Nesbitt, the Republican leaders of the Senate, issued a statement Tuesday saying he’s “glad the governor is finally back from another taxpayer-funded trip overseas because the clock is ticking.” He added it’s time for her to lead Democrats to the bargaining table.