State Senator Aric Nesbitt says Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s budget proposal is a dud.

Whitmer has proposed an $83 billion plan that includes $15 billion for the general fund and $21 billion for schools. Nesbitt says it’s just more of the same, spending too much on non-essential programs while other priorities get missed.

“Last year, the Democrats increased the income tax rate of the teacher pension fund,” Nesbitt said. “And two years ago, they squandered a $9 billion surplus in this $83.5 billion budget. It’s more of the same, a bloated budget that grows government funded by more taxes that grow government.”

Nesbitt says the governor’s proposed $4.9 billion for roads pales in comparison to a Republican plan that would generate an additional $3.1 billion for roads without raising taxes. He believes the governor’s plan misses the mark.

“It doesn’t address our root problems of children struggling in schools and working families trying to get by. There’s still no transformational road spending to improve our roads and bridges here in the state.”

Nesbitt says the budget should have three priorities: tax relief, the roads, and shoring up the state pension fund. He tells us the governor’s budget also includes more than $6 million to do a study on implementing a road usage tax to pay for road projects and also envisions a new tax on vaping products.

Nesbitt is expecting the final state spending plan will look different once negotiations are finished. Under state law, the budget has to be finalized by July 1.