Typically, the state budget process is completed once the governor signs the plan approved by the Legislature. This year, things are playing out a little differently – the budget is signed and completed, but the governor vetoed funding for several critical programs. To be exact, there were 147 vetoes in all.

The governor has transparently targeted her political opponents with these vetoes in her quest to raise the gas tax by 45 cents per gallon. Unfortunately, the effects of this strategy go far beyond her political opponents. Her vetoes hurt people all throughout Michigan, and families in rural communities like ours will suffer the most. Here are a few examples:

• The governor is taking away money local governments need to provide a wide range of public services people rely on every day. Many communities receive what’s known as “payment in lieu of taxes” from the state. These payments replace revenue lost on tax-exempt land owned by the state, including public-owned property controlled by the Department of Natural Resources. As you can imagine, PILT money makes up quite a bit of funding for some local governments. For communities in Jackson County, where 4.2 percent of the land is owned by the state, PILT funding amounted to $226,293 in fiscal year 2018.
• The governor eliminated $13 million that county sheriffs use to hire deputies to patrol secondary and rural roads. Last year, Jackson County received $182,970, Eaton County received $103,550 and Lenawee County received $115,995 – and each area was in line to receive even more this year. Without these funds in the new budget, it’s likely going to result in deputy layoffs and fewer officers patrolling our communities. She also eliminated the $600,000 set aside to boost the police presence and traffic control for races at Michigan International Speedway.
• She vetoed nearly $15 million from the county jail reimbursement fund. Each year, local counties agree to house people in the county jail who would normally be sent to state prison in exchange for funding. It’s supposed to be mutually beneficial – Michigan taxpayers save money when inmates are housed locally instead of in expensive state prisons and the county gets a funding boost for local public safety programs. Now, the governor is saying she won’t honor the state’s commitment.
• Her budget vetoes will make it harder for military veterans to get services they have earned and deserve. She eliminated $4 million for the County Veteran Services Fund that helps connect veterans to the services they need in their local communities. She eliminated $250,000 for the Buddy to Buddy program that gives veterans struggling with PTSD or depression a person to call regularly for support.
• The governor eliminated $750,000 for the Andy’s Angels program right here at home in Blackman Township – AFTER showing up for the ribbon cutting ceremony! This non-profit treatment program provides counseling and services for those batting opioid addiction and other substance abuse issues. This funding, in particular, was for the transitional housing facility for those trying to overcome their illness.
• She vetoed money – more than $4 million statewide – that helps counties cover indirect costs associated with helping children in foster care and the juvenile justice systems. Eliminating these resources will make it much harder to provide services for some of our most vulnerable children.
• The governor took away money to support children with autism – eliminating more than $1 million from systems designed to help families find services.

The governor is using children, seniors, military veterans and all Michigan residents as pawns in her quest to massively raise the gas tax, and I simply am not going to stand for it.

I am working with my colleagues in the Legislature to undo the damage the governor has done. I helped sponsor several bills that are part of a broad bipartisan plan to put this manufactured budget crisis behind us.

The budget restoration package gives the governor a second chance to do what’s best for Michigan’s future. I urge the governor to put politics aside and work with us to restore funding for these critical programs.

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State Rep. Sarah Lightner is serving her first term in the Michigan House representing residents in portions of Jackson, Lenawee and Eaton counties.