Even without a controversial 45-cent gas tax the governor favors, state spending on roads in Michigan is set to increase another $350 million by 2021, according to the Sept. 10 Michigan Capital Confidential.
And it seems the transportation budget has been steadily increasing over the past decade. As the same report shows, road funding has grown from $1.97 billion in 2010-2011 to the current rate of $3.64 billion during fiscal year 2018-2019. The projected amount in 2021 is $3.99 billion.
“This means that in eight years, annual state revenues allocated for transportation have increased by $1.39 billion above the rate of inflation,” the Confidential noted.
Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford)
| Michigan House Republicans
The transportation sector’s ever-increasing slice of the budget has convinced lawmakers to scuttle the new tax, and as state Rep. Matt Maddock (R-Milford) is quoted in the Confidential, “to find ways within our budgets we all know exist.”
Alerts Sign-up