Livingston Today

State Representative Ann Bollin, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, has responded to the governor's executive budget recommendations. In her statement, she emphasized the importance of spending wisely and prioritizing the needs of Michigan families amidst rising costs.

Bollin remarked, "Michigan families are feeling the strain of rising costs, and they deserve a government that spends wisely and prioritizes their needs." She suggested focusing on reducing waste and ensuring taxpayers receive value for their money. Bollin advocated for a responsible approach to ease burdens on residents.

She acknowledged that some of the governor’s proposals align with Republican priorities in the House. These include making life more affordable, improving education quality, and enhancing community safety. "I’m glad to see the governor is receptive to our plan for Michigan," Bollin said. However, she stressed these changes should not require new spending or tax increases.

Bollin noted that the governor's education proposals reflect ideas previously introduced by Republicans. She mentioned an openness to consolidating services so schools can allocate more funds directly to classrooms. "After years of ignoring Michigan’s literacy crisis, she’s finally listening to us and embracing the science of reading," Bollin stated.

The representative also highlighted recent efforts by the House to improve transparency in state budget earmarks. "Last week, the House adopted landmark changes... Now, the governor is proposing a similar plan," she said. Despite this progress, Bollin believes more work is needed for full accountability in spending.

Regarding infrastructure funding, Bollin criticized the absence of a roads plan in the budget recommendation. She argued against raising taxes as a solution and pointed out existing Republican solutions for road repairs without additional revenue collection.

Finally, Bollin expressed concerns about sustainability within government growth as outlined in the executive budget recommendations. She called for collaboration to prevent future fiscal challenges: "We need to work together to fix [this], so we’re not setting Michigan up for fiscal disaster down the road."