The Grand Traverse Road Commission has asked the county board to place a millage on the ballot to shore up funds, the Road Commission says are sorely needed.

7&4 News has this fact finder report:

[Grand Traverse Road Commission] Manager Mary Gillis says, "Our funding keeps dropping every year." She says they've had to cut staffing levels from 84 employees in 2001 to 56 today.

And while trying to keep up with the cost of clearing the roads in the winter, the list of repairing roads keeps growing. Gillis says, "It doesn't last forever and we've reached the point where the majority of our local roads are in poor condition." Gillis says, "Our road system really is in poor shape and it's going to continue to get worse and worse if we don't invest."

Gillis says, the road commission board has asked the county board to look at putting this millage on the ballot. It's a one mill for 4 years that would raise about $4.4 million a year in Grand Traverse County.

ABC news has this story on how lawmakers in Lansing are considering raising gas taxes to raise nearly $500 million for road repairs:

Two state lawmakers on Tuesday proposed higher taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel to raise money for Michigan's road system. The bills would raise the state's 19-cent per gallon gas tax to 23 cents this year and to 27 cents in 2013. Michigan's 15-cent per gallon diesel tax would increase to 21 cents this year and 27 cents in 2013.

It's estimated the measures would raise an additional $480 million a year in state revenue once fully implemented. The additional money would be put into a fund exclusively for roads and transportation projects with the state, counties and some local governments getting shares. Recipients would have to report how the money was spent.

Most lawmakers agree Michigan's roads and bridges need more attention, particularly as potholes pop up in winter and some counties opt to turn previously paved roads back to gravel because they're running short on money. But proposals to raise significantly more money for Michigan roads have fizzled in recent years in large part because of opposition to tax increases.

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