En Español
PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR FUNDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
MAX passengers and those who support public transportation need to be aware that new legislation was introduced in the State House that would help ensure funding for public transportation, something that is desperately needed.
State Rep. Richard Ball and Rep. Pam Byrnes have introduced a three-bill legislation package that would increase the gas tax with the revenue generated to be used only for our roads, bridges and transit systems. The bills are House Bills 5768, 5769 and 5770 and are tie-barred, meaning none can take effect unless all are approved and enacted.
The proposed tax would generate more revenue for transportation so that the state would be able to provide the necessary 20% matching funds to qualify for federal transportation funding. Because of our state's fiscal woes, Michigan is now a “donor state,†where we give Washington more money than what we get back. Next year if nothing is done to boost state revenues, we will get back only 50 cents on the dollar. The other 50 cents will go to other cities across the country instead of ours.
Bill 5768 would amend the Motor Fuel Tax Act to increase the current 19-cent per gallon by 4 cents. Each penny of the current tax generates about $44 million. The proposed gas tax is estimated to increase transportation revenue by $175 million each year. The second bill in the package would bring the gas tax for diesel in line with the gas tax that residents pay at the pump.
The proposed legislation would prevent proposed gas tax revenues from being siphoned off and used by other non-transportation related agencies and programs. This would ensure transportation projects are funded, and by earmarking these new funds for transportation would prevent siphoning and provide transparency in government to help win back voter trust.
The Michigan Department of Transportation's reports that beginning next year that it will not have enough revenue to match all available federal funding. Further, it anticipates that without additional state revenue, it will lose $475 million in federal aid this year (which will be given to other states), and a total of $2.1 Billion over the next four years. To put the amount of federal aid available to the state in perspective, federal aid to state transportation programs represents approximately one-third (33%) of state transportation appropriations.
We cannot afford not to invest in Michigan's transportation infrastructure. Let's get back some of the dollars we sent to Washington, rebuild our roads and transit systems, and create some new jobs along the way.
If you use MAX, or simply support public transit and want better roads, you need to call your legislator (Sen. Wayne Kuipers, Rep. Arlan Meekof, and Rep. Joe Haveman). Tell them you support funding for public transportation.
Call 888-719-3087. You will hear a short message and be asked to enter your zip code. You'll then be given the choice of being connected to your state senator or representative. Please take the time to tell them that public transit matters to you!
State Rep. Richard Ball and Rep. Pam Byrnes have introduced a three-bill legislation package that would increase the gas tax with the revenue generated to be used only for our roads, bridges and transit systems. The bills are House Bills 5768, 5769 and 5770 and are tie-barred, meaning none can take effect unless all are approved and enacted.
The proposed tax would generate more revenue for transportation so that the state would be able to provide the necessary 20% matching funds to qualify for federal transportation funding. Because of our state's fiscal woes, Michigan is now a “donor state,†where we give Washington more money than what we get back. Next year if nothing is done to boost state revenues, we will get back only 50 cents on the dollar. The other 50 cents will go to other cities across the country instead of ours.
Bill 5768 would amend the Motor Fuel Tax Act to increase the current 19-cent per gallon by 4 cents. Each penny of the current tax generates about $44 million. The proposed gas tax is estimated to increase transportation revenue by $175 million each year. The second bill in the package would bring the gas tax for diesel in line with the gas tax that residents pay at the pump.
The proposed legislation would prevent proposed gas tax revenues from being siphoned off and used by other non-transportation related agencies and programs. This would ensure transportation projects are funded, and by earmarking these new funds for transportation would prevent siphoning and provide transparency in government to help win back voter trust.
The Michigan Department of Transportation's reports that beginning next year that it will not have enough revenue to match all available federal funding. Further, it anticipates that without additional state revenue, it will lose $475 million in federal aid this year (which will be given to other states), and a total of $2.1 Billion over the next four years. To put the amount of federal aid available to the state in perspective, federal aid to state transportation programs represents approximately one-third (33%) of state transportation appropriations.
We cannot afford not to invest in Michigan's transportation infrastructure. Let's get back some of the dollars we sent to Washington, rebuild our roads and transit systems, and create some new jobs along the way.
If you use MAX, or simply support public transit and want better roads, you need to call your legislator (Sen. Wayne Kuipers, Rep. Arlan Meekof, and Rep. Joe Haveman). Tell them you support funding for public transportation.
Call 888-719-3087. You will hear a short message and be asked to enter your zip code. You'll then be given the choice of being connected to your state senator or representative. Please take the time to tell them that public transit matters to you!