Whitmer Proposes Millions in Fee Increases

Lansing, MI – A new report on Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s latest Executive Budget Recommendation shows that Michiganders would pay almost $140 million more in fees.

Introduced by the governor last month, her final budget includes hundreds of millions of dollars in fee increases, a litany of new taxes, and pulling from the rainy day fund in order to increase the budget by billions compared to last year’s. 

Gretchen Whitmer’s proposal would raise the fees on hunting and fishing licenses, land and water permits, watercraft registrations, and Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency Filings. All told, these increases are expected to total $139.2 million.

Whitmer’s budgets have grown each year, and these fee increases and new taxes are her latest attempt to bloat state government. Instead of focusing on tax relief, the governor is looking for new ways to fund pet projects and her activist priorities.

“As she has for seven years, Gretchen Whitmer is still looking to rob Peter so she can pay Paul,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “In this case, Peter is the average citizen of Michigan who wants to take their boat on the lake, and Paul is a multibillion-dollar corporation that has been raking in handouts from the governor for two full terms now.”