LANSING, MI (AP)-- As Michigan readies for a vote on raising taxes to smooth a deteriorating network of roads, one reason is because it's contending with the reality that federal money for the projects is down.
About $1 billion from the Federal Highway Trust Fund was made available to Michigan in 2013. That's 8 percent less than five years earlier and 15 percent less when adjusted for inflation, according to figures compiled by the Associated Press.
The AP analysis also shows that Michigan ranked second-lowest among all states in per-capita overall spending on highways, roads and bridges.
Michigan voters are being asked whether to increase the 6 percent sales tax to 7 percent in a May vote. It's a compromise plan backed by Governor Rick Snyder and lawmakers.