FIX ROADS FIRST: Local Board Urges Snyder to Scrap Income Tax Cut
Lack of Funds Forces Return to Gravel in Some BayTownships, Road Board Says
February 8, 2014
By: Dave Rogers
Bay County Road Commission truck plows and salts primary road.
'Keep the good roads good!"
You're going to hear that mantra more and more as we head into the 2014 election season.
The drumbeat on a statewide information campaign starts here Tuesday.
With 63 percent of Bay County's primary roads rated in "poor" condition, the state should use the expected budget surplus to fix roads rather than cut the income tax, says the Bay County Road Commission.
Bay County commissioners are being asked to adopt a resolution supporting that stand at their meeting Tuesday.
Four miles in Mt. Forest Township had to be returned to gravel last year because they couldn't be maintained under current funding and more miles are slated to retreat to primitive status this year and beyond, the road board said.
Fully half of county bridges need major rehabilitation or replacement and the number of bridges requiring load limitations because of deterioration has increased 15 percent in the past four years.
The road commission states in its request for support that it has been forced to reduce services, including:
No longer plowing residential roads on overtime (nights and weekends);
No longer paving any length of primary road each year other than with limited federal aid funds (previously paved 18 miles of primary road each year);
Other services including patching, mowing and tree trimming area also gradually being reduced.
The Legislature last year rejected Gov. Rick Snyder called for an increase in the state's gas tax and vehicle registration fees to generate $1.2 billion for Michigan roads.
The state budget surplus is estimated at $1 billion while funding needed to address Michigan roadways is said in excess of $1.2 billion.
The proposed county resolution by the road commission states: "Minimal action has been taken to direct or obligate any funding to address this issue, especially at the local level, which is contrary to the State's Asset Management based approach whose slogan is "Keep the Good Roads Good."
A Detroit area resident commented: "If this surplus is a result of Gov. Rick Snyder's tax package, we need to recognize that it came from the elimination of tax credits (earned income) that primarily impacted lower-income people and taxed retirees pensions."
Richard Crouch, of Indian River, said: "Gov. Rick Snyder should use the surplus to improve Michigan's roads and bridges, putting a lot of road builders to work. The money earned by the workers would be spent helping Michigan's economy and putting people back to work. Also, invest part of the surplus in K-12 education."