State Rep. Andrea Schroeder (R-Independence Township) wants to give local communities more control over road repair funds and total say in planning purposes.
Under current Michigan law, local governments are restricted on how they can spend road repair dollars. They must spend 75 percent of the road funds on primary roads and 25 percent on local roads.
Schroeder’s bill, House Bill 4966, would allow local communities to submit plans to spend money in accordance with the needs of the community, regardless of the traffic count or designation of the road.
While many towns can afford to pass road levies to pay for infrastructure improvements, Schroeder said there are many towns where people cannot afford to pay higher taxes. She said her bill package includes greater flexibility so more money is available to road projects without raising taxes.
“This plan is one crucial part of a proposal that will help make sure every community gets a fair deal when it comes fixing these critical roads, Schroeder said in a press release. “Communities shouldn’t be reaching into their neighbors’ wallets for more tax money every few years, when we could make policies that allow local governments to spend existing funds in ways that meet their infrastructure needs.”
After the introduction, the bill now goes to the House Committee on Transportation for study and discussion.
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