The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Trustees hear gas tax proposal
By Dave Wak, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 19, 2007
Augusta Township residents and trustees last week listened to a presentation from the Drive Michigan Campaign, which is promoting new gas taxes to pay for countywide road repairs.
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The organization is made up of state and local government officials, including members of the Washtenaw County Road Commission and other road commission members throughout the state.
Road Commission Public Information Community Relations Officer Val Cooper told the audience they should consider supporting two bi-partisan bills, introduced in the state legislature earlier this month, that call for nine-cent tax increases in both the gasoline and diesel to help pay for road repairs. Michigan motorists now are taxed 15 cents per gallon of gasoline and 19 cents for a gallon of diesel.
The legislation also calls for a 50 percent increase in vehicle registration fees.
Cooper said that Michigan's gas tax is relatively low compared to other nearby states. She cited Ohio's 28 cent and Wisconsin's 30 cent per gallon taxes as examples.
Cooper said the money was badly needed because funds for road maintenance were not keeping up with the repairs. She specifically said that the state needed about $9 million to pay for present road repairs and were falling about $1.9 million short on funds needed. Copper added that nearly 75 percent of Michigan's county roads needed some sort of repair.
Cooper stressed that despite the bad economy, residents needed to consider the long-term positives of the gas tax. She said if the roads were allowed to deteriorate much more it would affect commerce, including tourism, one of Michigan's biggest money makers.
"You have to look at it as an investment," Cooper said.
Cooper said funding problems arose in 2004, when the state began using road repair dollars to cover other expenses like maintaining secretary of state services. She said that since 2004, the state has transferred nearly $336 million to pay other costs.
Cooper said the Road Commission does not have the authority to call for taxes to pay for road repairs, and can only give public presentations. Cooper suggested residents contact their legislators to support the tax if they favored it.
Trustee Bill Tobler said he was skeptical about some of the organization's claims, specifically one where Cooper said roads were worn down because higher mileage vehicles were causing an increase in traffic contributing to the wear and tear.
Tobler said he was bothered that the Road Commission's informational packet didn't address other issues like how Michigan allows the heaviest semi truck load limits in the country that contributed to road wear.
Tobler also objected to the idea of a 50 percent increase in vehicle registration fees.
"As a taxpayer I would much rather have a gas tax than a higher registration fee," Tobler said.
Audience members peppered the Road Commission representatives with questions, including one about whether a fuel tax increase would fix the problem long term.
Transportation Planner Brian Shorkey said "No, it would just help the state catch up on funding present road repair projects."
Trustee Lynda Dew said she was definitely against the gas tax, even if the state's roads were in bad shape.
"I don't think increasing the gas tax is the answer; holding state government accountable is," she said.
Resident Pete Hafler said he thought the legislation had little if any chance of passing if it were brought up for a vote.
"I don't think any push for this (legislation) would work," he said.
Festival Comes to Lincoln
The Lincoln Educational Achievement Foundation is holding its first annual community festival to help finance special academic enrichment projects.
The Foundation is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers in the Lincoln Schools community, representative Steve Gray said. Gray also said that due to shortfalls in state funds teachers often have to pay for supplies for special student projects out of their own pockets, Gray said the festival proceeds would help raise money for these expenses.
The festival runs from May 17 through 20 at the Lincoln School grounds and will feature rides, games, food and live music.
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