LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is calling for a small increase in spending to maintain roads and bridges after his proposed permanent increase in fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees stalled last year.
The Republican governor on Wednesday asked lawmakers to set aside roughly $250 million from a projected budget surplus for the transportation budget.
More than half would help the state secure a federal funding match. The remaining $115 million in additional money for road and bridge projects is about half the one-time boost that occurred in the current budget year.
Snyder has previously dialed back expectations of a permanent road funding solution this election year. Michigan last raised the state gasoline tax in 1997 and it’s a third rail of sorts for legislators worried about the political fallout.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.