Michigan Senate rejects gas tax increase to fund road repairs

The Michigan Senate has rejected a bill that would have raised money to fix the state’s roads and bridges by raising the fuel tax.

Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville of Monroe wanted to see the gas tax increased from 19 cents per gallon to 41.5 cents per gallon over the next five years. If it had passed, it would have raised about $1.2 billion extra for roads each year once fully implemented.

However, that effort failed, as did a second proposal from Richardville for a much smaller 7% wholesale gas tax. A third option, raising Michigan’s 6% sales tax to 7% with the extra money dedicated to roads, also failed in the Senate.

After Thursday’s session, Michigan lawmakers are due to leave Lansing and return to their own districts for their annual summer break.