Tri-City Sun

State Representative Brian BeGole of Antrim Township voted in favor of a new fiscal year budget plan on Thursday. The plan allocates significant funding to education, local infrastructure, and public safety while aiming to reduce unnecessary government spending.

“House Republicans have spent months pushing for a responsible budget that respects people’s budgets – not one that rips them off to grow state government’s budget,” BeGole said. “I have heard from people throughout our communities on what matters to them: better local infrastructure, safe neighborhoods, getting our kids the support they need to thrive in the classroom and policies that help people keep more of what they earn. We fought for value for taxpayers in this budget plan, and this agreement is a testament to those efforts.”

The budget dedicates nearly $2 billion in ongoing funding for local road improvements. This investment is expected to provide many communities with the means to address road repairs and maintenance needs.

A new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund is included in the plan, providing $95 million this year and $50 million annually in future years. The fund aims to help communities address violent crime and support law enforcement agencies through equipment upgrades, officer retention, and other resources.

For education, the School Aid Fund increases per-pupil funding by $442 from last year, bringing it up to $10,050 per student. The plan also includes $321 million for school safety and mental health initiatives after these funds were reduced in the previous year's budget.

The proposal supports eliminating state taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security income as part of efforts aligned with federal tax cuts for families and seniors.

BeGole highlighted transparency measures introduced earlier this year by House Republicans. With House Resolution 14, all earmark spending items must be publicly listed before any vote. The resolution also bans earmarks for for-profit businesses, raises standards for non-profit recipients, and introduces safeguards against conflicts of interest. The Senate has adopted these rules as well.

The agreement removes over 2,000 unfilled positions within state government that had been funded but left vacant. It also sets an 80 percent occupancy requirement for state buildings to improve efficiency.

BeGole advocated against proposed fee increases for hunting and fishing licenses and supported enhanced oversight of assistance programs like Bridge cards to reduce fraud.

Additionally, BeGole secured more than $1.2 million in funding for two new ambulances for the Southwest Shiawassee Emergency Service Alliance to improve emergency response capabilities in local communities.

The budget plan now moves forward to the governor's office for consideration.