Michigan Road Funding

[TheForce]

I think Indiana is doing something right and Michigan should be taking notes...

http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Penc ... 96302.html

[Matt]

Wrong.

Reserves are not meant to fund ongoing infrastructure costs. Reserves are really meant to be a safeguard against unexpected economic or other unforeseen events.

[Deleted User 8570]

Wrong.

Reserves are not meant to fund ongoing infrastructure costs. Reserves are really meant to be a safeguard against unexpected economic or other unforeseen events.

We have a large rainy day fund collecting dust... I see a rainy day coming UP. Let's use it.

[TheForce]

Well I don't see any other ideas getting passed. Everything needs to be on the table at this point. I think Michigan residents would go along with something like this simply because it doesn't involve a tax increase. Isn't that what everyone has been screaming for? Quite frankly I am disgusted with our dysfunctional legislature on this matter.

[Lester The Nightfly]

Well I don't see any other ideas getting passed. Everything needs to be on the table at this point. I think Michigan residents would go along with something like this simply because it doesn't involve a tax increase. Isn't that what everyone has been screaming for? Quite frankly I am disgusted with our dysfunctional legislature on this matter.

Just to confirm your point about the lack of progress in addressing the issue:
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/p ... /73870236/

Political bickering aside, what remains a fact is another road repair season has come and gone and the time has been squandered.

[TheForce]

Either way you look at it, we're all up shit creek. All these delays will only make the necessary repairs/rebuilding even more costly.

[jry]

I don't get this. These guys are chomping at the bit to raise taxes. They just got their internet sales tax through and by all counts, it'll bring in an extra 500 million dollars a year. Now, take this and add to it the Lucido Plan and you'll be flush with cash.

[MWmetalhead]

It's the BUDGETING process in Michigan that is killing us.

Not enough tax dollars are flowing to the general fund and too many tax dollars are flowing into restricted funds.

They just got their internet sales tax through and by all counts, it'll bring in an extra 500 million dollars a year.

Yeah, but business taxes have been reduced by a total of $1.8 billion, and redemption of business tax credits issued primarily (but not entirely) during the Granholm years represent an additional burden on state coffers.

The fact the GOP house wants to tie additional road funding to a marginal income tax rate reduction is moronic. Michigan's personal income tax rate is already one of the lowest in nation.

I say pass a gas tax increase, build in some sort of sunset provision (say 4 years or 5 years), and use the next few years to fundamentally restructure the budgeting/funding process in Lansing, including pursuit of amendments to the state's constitution, if appropriate.

BTW, I fully support using a portion of the obscenely large fund balance in the catastrophic insurance fund to fund road repairs. As I've stated before, ideally there needs to be a one-time, large slug of cash to bring roads "up to par" to compensate for many years' worth of deferred maintenance.

[Deleted User 8570]

It's the BUDGETING process in Michigan that is killing us.

Not enough tax dollars are flowing to the general fund and too many tax dollars are flowing into restricted funds.

They just got their internet sales tax through and by all counts, it'll bring in an extra 500 million dollars a year.

Yeah, but business taxes have been reduced by a total of $1.8 billion, and redemption of business tax credits issued primarily (but not entirely) during the Granholm years represent an additional burden on state coffers.

The fact the GOP house wants to tie additional road funding to a marginal income tax rate reduction is moronic. Michigan's personal income tax rate is already one of the lowest in nation.

I say pass a gas tax increase, build in some sort of sunset provision (say 4 years or 5 years), and use the next few years to fundamentally restructure the budgeting/funding process in Lansing, including pursuit of amendments to the state's constitution, if appropriate.

BTW, I fully support using a portion of the obscenely large fund balance in the catastrophic insurance fund to fund road repairs. As I've stated before, ideally there needs to be a one-time, large slug of cash to bring roads "up to par" to compensate for many years' worth of deferred maintenance.

"Cut the taxes on business and citizens and just watch the economy take off!!!". Guess not and now it's hurting the state... Don't these people realize we got all the stuff that's falling apart by having what they keep taking away?!?...