SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A respected tax and budget watchdog is praising the Illinois governor’s budget proposal for cautious spending and paying bills.

But the Civic Federation on Thursday took a dim view of Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to fight inflation by sparing consumers a few dollars at the gas pump.

Federation president Laurence Msall notes that unexpected rebounds in tax revenue provide relief for the state. He says Pritzker is prudently paying down debt and building reserves.

But he says his inflation-fighting plan to freeze the motor fuel tax is shortsighted. It’s indexed to inflation and would increase 2 cents in July.

Msall says halting that increase would hinder much needed repairs to roads and bridges.