Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to increase the state’s fuel tax to around 70 cents per gallon by October of 20-20.
Whitmer presented the idea as part of her first budget proposal.
Governor Whitmer says this plan would raise the amount of money necessary to maintain and improve Michigan’s roads. Along with her fuel tax proposal, Whitmer says the state should also get rid of the pension tax and double the earned income tax credit to help low income people offset the financial strain.
Opponents say this is too much for most people to have to pay. Whitmer’s Budget Director, Chris Kolb says this is the best way to get the necessary money to fix the roads.
“There’s a fairness to it. The more you drive, the more you pay.”
Whitmer says she is open to other ideas, but she says the state needs more than 2 billion dollars a year to improve the roads.