State Rep. Mike Harris on Wednesday said he will keep working to protect Michigan taxpayers and reduce the tax burden after an income tax hike took effect at the start of the year.

The state’s income tax rate for individuals and small businesses increased from 4.05% to 4.25% on Jan. 1, a hike necessary to pay for the $82 billion budget passed by Michigan Democrats last summer. Harris, R-Waterford, opposed the wasteful spending on unsustainable programs and pork projects.

“Michigan taxpayers are starting 2024 with a totally unnecessary income tax hike,” Harris said. “As state representative, my goal is to use the people’s dollars responsibly, spend only what we have, and pay for our state’s needs — cutting taxes whenever possible. Unfortunately for the people of Michigan, the Democrat majority chose the easy, irresponsible path last year. They eliminated our massive surplus, bankrolling billions of dollars in special projects while neglecting the most important needs, including the broken local roads in our cities and townships. Now Michiganders are stuck with a tax hike to pay for all that wasteful spending.”

Harris voted against the $82 billion spending plan last summer—legislation that wasted the state’s $9 billion surplus.