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Road Funding Ballot Language Approved

As the last legislature was putting the dust covers on the furniture and computers at the end of the lame duck session, they attempted to address the state's crumbling roads. A proposal to do that with gasoline taxes – which was supported by former Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, and Gov. Rick Snyder – failed to gain approval from the Michigan house. A compromise was struck, shifting the decision to voters for the May 5, 2015 ballot.
Now the language to approve that funding scheme has been approved. Here is the approved language (as provided by the Secretary of State):

THE FOLLOWING STATEWIDE BALLOT PROPOSAL WILL APPEAR ON THE
MAY 5, 2015
SPECIAL ELECTION BALLOT
PROPOSAL 15-1
A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.
The proposed constitutional amendment would:
– Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.
– Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).
– Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for 4-year colleges / universities.
– Give effect to laws, including those that:
– Increase sales / use tax to 7 percent, as authorized by constitutional amendment.
– Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes.
– Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects.
– Increase earned income tax credit.
Should this proposal be adopted? YES NO

The proposal is expected to raise an additional $1.3 billion in revenue for the state. But critics have noted that there is nothing in the proposal which would require the state to actually spend the money on local governments and schools (which have both seen declining revenue sharing from the state for over a decade). In fact, they note, this current budget adjustment process – revenue estimates in February showed the state was hundreds of millions of dollars in the red – resulted in a cut of about $53 million in education funding to balance the books.
The proposal is not popular – with conservatives or progressives – and is struggling for positive approval ratings in polling. Expect this to be an expensive and very messy fight in the coming months. And be aware, there is no plan to fund fixing the roads if this proposal does fail in May. It's a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' situation.

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