<Home
Rep. Berman: Bipartisan measures will help address Michigan’s local roads without a tax increase
RELEASE|March 5, 2020

Legislation protects school funding; helps roads across the state

State Rep. Ryan Berman, of Commerce Township, announced his support today for newly unveiled legislation that will fix a gigantic problem in Michigan’s current road funding formula, generate an extra $800 million for roads without new taxes and dedicate the money solely to local roads which lost out in the governor’s recent borrowing scheme.

The bills call for ensuring all state taxes paid at the gas pump go to fixing roads, with a priority on roads managed by local municipalities such as counties, cities and villages. The measures would phase out the 6 percent sales tax drivers already pay on fuel purchases over a three-year period, and replace it with an equivalent revenue-neutral fuel tax – generating approximately $800 million more per year for local roads.

The measures also fill in the sizeable gap left from the governor’s recent decision to bond for $3.5 billion for state-owned highways in upcoming years. That proposal only can address state roads – a small percentage of Michigan’s total road miles – and ignores the “driveway to highway” roads people use frequently for a variety of everyday needs.

“People use more than just the highways when they drive and that’s what these bills will help address,” Berman said. “This change will get more out of what hardworking residents in Oakland County are already paying at the pump.”

Berman noted the importance within the legislation of holding school funding harmless. Built-in safeguards ensure those investments continue and school funding is not negatively impacted in any way, as sales tax revenue currently dedicated to schools from fuel purchases would be fully replaced.

“My wife Stacie is a teacher and we have two daughters in our public school system. I know firsthand the importance of continued commitment in this area,” Berman said. “A lot of people think everything they pay at the pump is dedicated to their roads now, but the funding is used for several different essential services. These bills create a more effective funding mechanism for roads while funding for our students isn’t impacted in a negative fashion.”

The legislation will be referred to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration.

Michigan House Republicans

© 2009 - 2024 Michigan House Republicans. All Rights Reserved.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.