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    Michigan Lawmakers Explore Alternatives to Gas Tax Hike

    By Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Tue, Feb 7, 2012
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    Michigan's Senate Transportation Committee is hammering out a 30-bill package to address the state's extensive road and bridge repair issues. Included is a proposed gas tax hike to fund the $1.4 billion per year needed for the renovation. As the Detroit Free Press says, that portion is being pushed down the committee's agenda in favor of other measures that are less costly to taxpayers. Here are details about road work and gas tax increases in Michigan.

    * According to the Traverse City Record-Eagle, the Michigan Department of Transportation reports that in 2011, 89 percent of Michigan's interstate highways and major roadways were in fair to good shape, but that figure would drop to 44 percent by 2020.

    * A 2010 MDOT analysis said one of every three roads was rated poor. By 2015, the report projected half of those roads will be in bad shape if additional funding isn't forthcoming.

    * Those numbers don't include the several county roads. County Road Association of Michigan says the state is fourth nationally in the number of country roads and bridges. Three-quarters of Michigan's paved county roads are in need of repair and half of the county roads are unpaved. 39 percent of the bridges are rated deficient or are closed because of functional or structural issues.

    * In January, Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill calling for massive repairs. He said Michigan needs a 10- to 20-year approach. Several methods were suggested for revenue, including a 9-cent gas hike or 1 percent sales tax increase, says the Detroit Free Press.

    * Another option would be to increase vehicle registration costs. This would offset the loss of gas tax revenue from hybrid and electric vehicle drivers and spread the cost for road repairs more equitably.

    * Motorists haven't seen a gas tax hike since 1997 when Gov. John Engler added a 5-cent increase.

    * If the gas tax passes, the current plan would basically eliminate the 19-cent gas tax and 15-cent diesel tax and replace them with an across-the-board 10.1 percent wholesale tax. This would bump gas prices 27 cents by 2013, says MLive.

    * Before they consider a tax increase, senators say they're looking for all possible discounts and alternate funding sources, says the Alpena News.

    Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about people, places, events and issues in her home state of "Pure Michigan."

     

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