State House Minority Leader Brad Jones said Wednesday that his caucus opposes any cuts to local aid.

Facing shortfalls in tax collections and a looming national economic crisis, House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi had said this week  that he expects local aid to be cut between 5 and 10 percent.

Jones, of North Reading, said Republicans opposed this year's budget because they feared local aid would have to be cut.

"Every member of the Republican caucus voted against the recent budget because we knew for a fact that it was unsustainable and we wanted to protect local aid from midyear 9C cuts," he said. "The decision to pass that bloated budget is coming back to haunt the commonwealth and its residents."

Jones also jabbed Democrats, saying Republicans will "encourage the majority party to learn to live within our means."

"We will continue to fight for more fiscally responsible behavior on Beacon Hill and bring the voice of the people to the House floor before any cuts are made to local aid," Jones said.

DiMasi's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.