House Republican Leader Brad Jones, whose district includes North Reading, called Governor Deval Patrick’s 2014 budget “short-sighted and irresponsible” in a statement on Thursday.

The governor unveiled a $34.8 billion budget plan for 2014 this week, marking a 6.9% increase over the 2013 budget. The state income tax would rise to from 5.3% 6.25% and the sales tax would fall from 6.25% to 4.5% under the Patrick plan.

"The Administration's method of reckless taxation as a means towards revenue, while tapping into the ‘Rainy Day’ fund, is both shortsighted and extremely irresponsible," said Jones. 

Rep. Jones said that he began his preliminary examination of the Patrick budget “with great trepidation” and suggested that “Governor Patrick is ready to implement a tax and spend approach that will not benefit anyone other than the legacy of the Patrick/Murry administration.

Jones also challenged the Governor on the stat’s structural budget deficit, saying that “contrary to the governor’s belief that the structural deficit is gone, it is alive and well, and this budget only perpetuates it.” 

"This year’s budget is not one to be taken lightly and the Legislature will be forced to grapple with the many fiscal constraints facing Massachusetts.  However, what should not be lost in budgetary line items or sound bites are the real concerns and desires of the taxpayers,” said Jones.