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Split Michigan House OKs plan to shift fuel taxes to roads

Posted at 4:45 PM, Jun 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-13 16:45:48-04

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Sales taxes collected at the pump would be shifted to road repairs under a budget plan approved by a divided Michigan House.

Majority Republicans on Thursday billed it as a key component of their counterproposal to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s call for higher fuel taxes to fix deteriorating infrastructure. Democrats in opposition say the spending bills would create new problems by diverting money from schools and municipalities.

Michigan spends less per capita on transportation than many states but has fuel taxes that rank among the country’s highest. That’s because it assesses a sales tax on gasoline — which is rare — while the revenue primarily helps fund education and local governments.

The House vote was the latest step in what could be a protracted budget process that extends into summer.