The condition of a mile stretch of Tripp road between Dixie Highway and Grange Hall Road in Groveland Township has been deemed deplorable by some motorists.
‘Water runs over Tripp Road in the spring through a low area’the road is actually sinking,? said Bob DePalma, Groveland Township supervisor. ‘The bump sign along the road needs to redesigned to bump, bump, bump.?
DePalma and other public officials remain optimistic that the rough rides found on township and additional area roadways may get considerably smoother later this year following a sales tax ballot initiative passed with two-thirds support by members of both the state house and senate in a lame duck session.
If approved by voters at the polls on May 5, the current 6 percent state sales tax would jump to 7 percent. Once fully implemented, the proposal will provide $1.3 billion in additional dollars to roads, $260 million in low-income tax relief, $300 million in additional funding for schools and a $94 million increase for local governments, according to state officials. The measures will also eliminate the existing 19-cents-per-gallon tax on gasoline and the 15-cents-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel. It would convert both to a 14.9 percent tax on the average price of gasoline and the average price of diesel fuel.
Larry Merrill, executive director of the Michigan Townships Association, representing more than 1,200 communities statewide, supports the vote and sales tax hike.
‘Township officials can appreciate the challenge that Gov. Rick Snyder and House and Senate leadership faced in meeting the public’s expectations for fixing Michigan’s deplorable roads with increased spending without being hit with higher taxes,? said Merrill. ‘Even putting a tax increase on the ballot takes considerable courage in today’s political climate. This bipartisan solution is more attractive when compared to the potential for increased road funding coming at the expense of local governments and schools. The Michigan Townships Association is optimistic that voters will ultimately decide our roads are worth the investment and approve a sales tax increase.?
DePalma is not so optimistic regarding the complicated set of bills.
‘I want someone to show me where our township residents will get something out of this,? he said. ‘Is this just some way to pump money into Detroit? Or into a mass transit system that will not work here? I need to know exactly what they are asking for and all the caveats. I’m really not sure. Voters will be untrusting if they don’t make it very clear. In my opinion, come up with one number to fix the roads and leave it at that.?
With the funding DePalma said two roads’Tripp Road between Grange Hall and Dixie Highway, along with Groveland Road between M-15 and Jossman Road, would be the first to be considered.
‘Currently, the fix for Tripp Road, by far the worst in the township, will not happen at least until 2019 and the longer we wait the worse it gets,? said DePalma. ‘The road just keeps sinking, it will have to be rebuilt completely. The road money would have to come through the county before it ended up in the township.?
In Genesee County, Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones supports the funds for roads decision on the ballot.
‘I’m all for the vote for the sales tax,? she said. ‘The lawmakers could not decide on a plan’it gets to a point there’s just not enough money to get everything done, the roads are getting worse everyday for us. Like other townships we are way down on the list to get our roads fixed’it’s either live with the problem or ante up.?
‘We have been very aggressive on keeping up our local roads,? she continued. ‘We currently have a five year road plan and have 42 miles of gravel roads in the township’the second highest amount in Genesee County. It’s really difficult to have a plan of the best place to spend extra road money. Some people would like to see their gravel road paved, but that’s just too expense.?
Jones said a possible area would be the intersection of McCandlish and Gale roads where the approach needs to be paved.
‘The cost will exceed $700,000 due to the slope and drainage issues,? she added.
Kathy Thurman, Brandon Township supervisor, earmarked three road resurfacing projects that would be top priority if additional funding became available.
Resurfacing of Seymour Lake and Oakwood roads within the township, in addition to a section of Sashabaw Road near Oak Hill Road, as well as graveling on Hadley and North Sashabaw roads. Thurman would also seek funding for paving of Oak Hill Road between M-15 and Ellis Road.
‘The funds generated by the sales tax hike would come indirectly through the Road Commission for Oakland County,? said Thurman. ‘There’s a better way to collect road funds then through raising the sales tax. I’m disappointed with state lawmakers.Rroad funds could be gathered by amending the gas sales tax. The tax has not been relative to the rate of inflation. And it’s going to cost the taxpayers.?