LANSING, MI (AP)-- The Michigan Senate has voted to dedicate part of the state sales tax collected on gasoline to road funding, while talks continue over the bigger issue raising taxes and vehicle registration fees to repair roads.
Legislation approved unanimously Thursday would move $128 million a year from Michigan's general fund to transportation. It goes to the House, which has passed its own road-funding package that's stalled while senators debate ways to raise much more revenue for deteriorating roads.
One plan would effectively more than double the 19-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax by 2018, raising $1.2 billion per year. Another would increase Michigan's 6 percent sales tax.
Time's running out before lawmakers adjourn in a week. Majority Republicans are divided on raising taxes and Democrats oppose increasing taxes unless lower-income residents get relief.