Michigan ballot measure fight attracts more than $8 million

Michigan voters will decide on Tuesday whether the state should raise its sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to pay for repairs for the state’s roads and bridges.

The measure has attracted more than $8 million, with the construction industry and unions backing the "yes" side and anti-tax advocates fighting it. It’s not uncommon for ballot measures to be expensive endeavors dominated by deep-pocketed parties who stand to reap financial benefits from the outcome.

In this case, the ballot measure is expected to raise an additional $1.2 billion annually for road and bridge improvements, as well as about $600 million more per year for schools, local governments and public transit. It would also eliminate the state’s sales tax on gasoline while creating new fees for electric and hybrid cars.

It also has caused a split among some conservatives in the state. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder supports the measure, as do several local chambers of commerce. But some of the opponents are prominent members of the GOP.

Here are nine things to know about the money behind the measure:

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This story is part of Who’s Calling the Shots in State Politics?. The Center exposes the powerful special interests that drive elections and policy in the states. Click here to read more stories in this blog.

Copyright 2014 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.