More taxes loom over hunt for budget fix: Civil service agency gets ax.

Byline: Dawson Bell, Chris Christoff and Kathleen Gray

May 25--LANSING -- Like traffic at rush hour, the Legislature lurched slowly Thursday toward an agreement to resolve the state's budget crisis, with all eyes on how -- or whether -- to raise taxes this fiscal year or next.

As Democratic and Republican leaders met privately, momentum grew for a higher income tax, possibly combined with a so-called luxury tax on such items as concert and sports events tickets, golf and skiing fees, and a few services such as landscaping and dry cleaning.

On another front, Gov. Jennifer Granholm abolished on Thursday the state Department of Civil Service, and placed its functions, as well as other administrative duties, under a single department.

Liz Boyd, …