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Snyder road-funding plan spurs opposing ballot effort

freep.com

SAGINAW, MI (AP)--   A Saginaw-area businessman has created a ballot committee to oppose a proposed increase in Michigan's sales tax to boost spending on roads, schools and local governments.

Paul Mitchell announced Monday that he formed the Coalition Against Higher Taxes and Special Interest Deals. He says much of the extra revenue that would be raised by a one percentage-point hike in the six percent sales tax wouldn't go to road repairs.

He says Proposal 1 on the May 5 ballot is a "special interest, back room deal-making hodge-podge."

Mitchell spent $3.5 million of his own money last year on an unsuccessful run for Congress.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder favored an increase in the state gasoline and diesel taxes to raise at least $1.2 billion for roads. But the Republican-led Legislature objected.