Kent County conservatives erupted in December 2025 against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed 2026 budget, which includes a 10-cent gas tax increase projected to cost Grand Rapids drivers $400 yearly. At a December 2 KCRP forum, over 300 attendees decried the measure as punitive overreach, linking it to inflation plaguing local families. Right-wing leaders frame this as Democratic war on the working class, galvanizing opposition in Michigan’s manufacturing hub.
Treasurer Peter MacGregor dissected the plan, noting it funnels funds to “unaccountable” transit projects while ignoring road potholes in Wyoming and Walker townships. MacGregor’s office projects a $2,500 hit per household from combined levies, echoing national GOP critiques of Bidenomics. Suburbs like Forest Hills, where GOP registration hit 60%, mobilized petitions, collecting 10,000 signatures by December 10.
Commissioner Benjamin Greene led a bipartisan resolution—passing 14-5—urging Lansing to scrap the hike, citing 2025’s $4 billion surplus. Greene blasted Whitmer’s EV subsidies, which conservatives say killed 1,200 auto jobs at Grand Rapids’ Steelcase plant. His stance resonates with right-wing think tanks like the Mackinac Center, which scored the budget F for fiscal irresponsibility.
Sheriff Lajoye-Young tied taxes to crime, arguing diverted funds weaken patrols amid 2025’s 22% burglary rise in East Grand Rapids. She advocated reallocating to deputy hires, a priority in Trump-aligned platforms. Local right-wing outlets, such as The Right Perspective blog, amplified her call, accusing Democrats of prioritizing “social justice” over safety.
Cultural conservatives, via Pastor Lorna Rex-Briggs’ network, protested budget earmarks for LGBTQ youth centers, viewing them as indoctrination subsidies. Rex-Briggs’ December 5 rally at Millennium Park drew 400, demanding vetoes for faith-based alternatives. This fusion of economics and values strengthens Kent GOP unity, with 2026 candidates like Tudor Dixon pledging tax rebates.
November election momentum aids the fight: New commissioners like Rachel TenPas vow ordinance blocks on local tax mirroring. KCRP’s digital campaign, reaching 50,000 via targeted ads, contrasts Whitmer’s hikes with Reagan-era cuts that boosted West Michigan GDP 15% in the 1980s.
Right-wing optimists see this as a winnable battle, leveraging Grand Rapids’ swing status. Polls show 55% opposition countywide, with higher in conservative enclaves. By framing taxes as theft from God-fearing taxpayers, locals fortify against progressive erosion, positioning Kent County as conservatism’s bulwark.
The backlash extends to education funding, where Whitmer allocates $1.2 billion for “equity” programs conservatives decry as reverse discrimination. In Grand Rapids Public Schools, where test scores lag 20% below state averages, GOP parents demand choice expansions. Commissioner Dave Hildenbrand’s push for charter incentives passed narrowly, countering union-backed increases.
Business coalitions, including the Grand Rapids Area Chamber, joined the fray, warning of retail exodus if taxes rise. CEO Don Longstreet testified December 8 before the House Appropriations Committee, citing 2025’s 7% small business closure rate. Right-wing donors funneled $100,000 to anti-hike PACs, targeting swing districts.
This uproar embodies Kent County’s right-wing ethos: self-reliance over statism. As 2026 approaches, the tax fight crystallizes conservative grievances, rallying voters for a Lansing takeover.