Rob Coppersmith, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA), issued the following statement following the release of an EPIC-MRA poll showing that Michigan voters overwhelmingly want all taxes collected at the gas pump to be dedicated to funding and fixing Michigan’s roads and bridges:
“Michigan voters have long made it clear that fixing Michigan’s crumbling infrastructure is a top issue for the state. For decades, the state has neglected properly funding infrastructure improvements, resulting in a $3.9 billion infrastructure investment deficit. It’s clear that we must explore a broad variety of options to fill that gap, and utilizing taxes collected at the pump could be part of that solution.
“An overwhelming majority of Michigan voters – 82 percent – believe that all taxes collected at the pump should be dedicated to funding and fixing Michigan’s roads and bridges. Collecting taxes at the gas pump to fund our infrastructure network has long been viewed as an equitable method to ensure that users of Michigan’s infrastructure are equitably paying for the resources they utilize. Currently, of the 6% sales tax collected at the pump, which generates around $1.1 billion annually, only $50 million goes to fixing our roads and bridges, with the remaining funds being dedicated to education and local communities.
“Two-thirds of voters from all sides of the political divide believe that Michigan’s leaders should take action to ensure that all sales tax collected at the gas pump is dedicated to funding and fixing Michigan’s roads. We must find a way to ensure we are equitably paying for the services that Michiganders expect of the state. And we look forward to working with Michigan’s leaders, and stakeholders from all sides of this issue, to find a solution that funds and fixes our roads and bridges, protects education funding, and ensures that communities receive the revenue they rely on.
“The results of this poll show the continued need for a long-term, equitable, and sustainable infrastructure plan from Michigan’s leaders. Study after study shows that Michigan’s infrastructure will continue to worsen if we don’t make the needed investments now. I hope Michigan’s leaders will see these results and come together to do what’s needed and pass a long-term infrastructure investment plan that will put Michigan on the right track for years to come.”
To read analysis from EPIC-MRA on the poll results, click here.