State Rep. Matthew Bierlein, of Vassar, today said a signed budget agreement for the new fiscal year makes historic investments in local roads and schools, protects people’s paychecks and delivers needed transparency to the budget process.

“I have consistently heard from people I represent that taxpayer funds should focus on the basics, and that’s what this budget provides,” Bierlein said. “State government spending has increased by over 40 percent since the governor took office. In that time, we’ve seen corporations get hundreds of millions of tax dollars and underdeliver on projects, various pet projects that serve Lansing insiders instead of constituents, and a nonstop push to grow government with full-time positions that often are budgeted with tax dollars but never get filled.

“Enough was enough. This budget focuses on delivering better local roads for people who are driving their kids to school or going to work. It gives our students the resources they need to thrive in the classroom and ensures our most vulnerable get care they need. Responsible budgeting helped deliver this final product, and we will continue fighting in the House to ensure tax dollars are respected, not abused.”

Highlights of the plan include:

A landmark commitment to local infrastructure – The budget dedicates nearly $2 billion in ongoing funding to fix local roads. For many local road agencies, this investment will mean communities finally have the resources to repair potholes and repave roads workers and families use every day.

Supporting federal efforts to cut taxes – The budget plan supports federal tax cuts for Michigan families and seniors at the state level so that hardworking people aren’t punished for putting in extra hours or enjoying the retirement they’ve earned. State taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security income are eliminated.

Restoring critical school safety and mental health funding – The School Aid Fund budget provides $321 million for school safety and mental health funding after it was cut to just $28 million in last year’s budget. The funding comes on top of an increased per-pupil amount of $10,050 – a $442 increase from last year.

Making historic investments in rural health care – The budget includes $250 million in grants for rural hospitals. These funds will strengthen underserved hospitals, support long-term stability, and ensure families in every corner of Michigan have access to quality care close to home.

Requiring full transparency for earmarks – Thanks to Bierlein and House Republicans, transparency measures will now be in place for all special projects in the state budget. Every single special project included in the budget went through a completely open process that included over 100 hours of public hearings. Also, for the first time, for-profit companies were barred from being awarded special projects, ensuring accountability and transparency in how state dollars are spent. The budget agreement includes a permanent law change, ensuring these new rules are in place for all future budgets.

Additionally, Bierlein secured $2 million for the city of Vassar to build a new public safety building, which will address the community’s growing need for modern police and fire. The new facility will help improve emergency response capabilities, ensure the safety of residents and their families, and support long-term operational needs for the city’s public safety departments.