State Rep. Timmy Beson, R-Bay City, issued the following statement after the state budget director presented Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Budget Recommendation for the upcoming fiscal year.

“I was disappointed to hear the governor’s Executive Budget Recommendation includes $800 million in new taxes and fees that make everyday life more expensive, along with a proposed $400 million withdrawal from the state’s rainy day fund. This is not a step in the right direction. Michigan families are tightening their belts every month just to keep up with expenses, and state government should be doing the same.

“Last year, we cut hundreds of millions in waste, fraud, and abuse from the state budget, shut down government slush funds, and eliminated thousands of ghost employee positions taxpayers were unknowingly footing the bill for, proving it’s not necessary to raise taxes to balance the budget, state government simply needs to live within its means. That’s the responsible approach, and we will use the same roadmap this year.

“While I appreciate the governor has included property tax relief in her proposal, a small carve-out for a limited group is not nearly enough. Seniors absolutely deserve relief, but so do young families buying their first homes, homeowners on fixed incomes, and people who are struggling every year to keep up with rising assessments and tax bills. I will be pushing for broad, meaningful property tax relief that helps all Michigan families.

“I’m very glad the governor has vowed that addressing the state’s literacy crisis will be her top priority during her final year in office. However, I’m concerned this may be too little, too late. Michigan’s literacy rates are in freefall. Six in 10 fourth graders can’t read at grade level, and the state fell 11 spots in national rankings in just two years. While the governor’s proposal includes roughly $625 million for literacy and student achievement, it’s clear funding alone isn’t the issue. Michigan has already spent close to a billion dollars over the past decade without seeing the results families expect. That tells me this is not just a funding issue, it is also a policy issue. We need to focus on proven strategies that actually help kids learn to read.

“I was pleased to see the governor highlighted the House Republican Roads Plan that she signed into law last October, which dedicates an extra $2 billion in long term funding for roads and bridges. We fought hard for this last term, and this historic investment means more than 30,000 additional construction jobs and safer, smoother roads for families who drive on them every single day. The fact that roads are finally getting this level of attention shows what’s possible when we cut waste elsewhere and focus on the core responsibilities of government.

“As the budget process moves forward, I will continue working with my colleagues to rein in spending, eliminate waste, and deliver meaningful tax relief for Michigan families.”