State Rep. Greg Alexander today criticized a budget recommendation from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for the upcoming fiscal year, outlining increased spending and a lack of attention to local roads as key concerns.

Whitmer’s proposed budget checks in at $83.5 billion, which is $1 billion larger than the budget she signed last year. The recommendation would establish over 800 full-time government positions and fails to provide sufficient resources to cover things like local road repairs that are desperately needed.

“As workers and families throughout our communities continue to operate on tight budgets, the state continues to grow spending,” Alexander said, noting that government spending has grown by 43% since Gov. Whitmer took office. “It’s incredibly tone-deaf. People have made it clear the last few months that the out-of-control government spending is a huge issue and taxpayer money needs to be used responsibly. There should be more in this budget that focuses on people’s priorities and value on tax dollars.”

Alexander pointed to an existing, comprehensive House Republican plan that commits $3.145 billion each year using $2.2 billion from the Corporate Income Tax, including expiring and inefficient earmarks set aside for business attraction incentives, and $945 million through permanently dedicating all taxes paid at the pump to road funding.

The plan includes zero new taxes and no new bonds that increase long-term debt for taxpayers. It also holds school funding harmless by dedicating $700 million in sales tax revenue to account for the decrease in what is normally allocated through gasoline sales tax.

Alexander also noted that the governor’s proposed budget closely follows recent House Republican plans to improve Michigan’s education system and bring more transparency to the state’s earmark process.

“House Republicans are committed to responsible governing and delivering solutions, not burdening workers and small businesses with additional taxes and fees to support state spending,” Alexander said. “I am hopeful in the months ahead, we have a budget that respects these principles.”