Up North Progressive

On May 5, 2015, more than the celebration of the 1862 Mexican victory over France in the Battle of Puebla will be taking place. The referendum ballot initiative to raise the state sales tax from 6% to 7% and provide minimal funding to fill in a few potholes, while raising a whole long list of other taxes will be happening across the state. If you want to vote on that referendum ballot, you must be registered to vote today.

This is what you will see on the ballot on May 5:

PROPOSAL 15-1A proposal to amend the State Constitution to increase the sales/use tax from 6% to 7% to replace and supplement reduced revenue to the School Aid Fund and local units of government caused by the elimination of the sales/use tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for vehicles operating on public roads, and to give effect to laws that provide additional money for roads and other transportation  purposes by increasing the gas tax and vehicle registration fees.

The proposed constitutional amendment would:

• Eliminate sales / use taxes on gasoline / diesel fuel for vehicles on public roads.

 

• Increase portion of use tax dedicated to School Aid Fund (SAF).
• Expand use of SAF to community colleges and career / technical education, and prohibit use for
  4-year colleges / universities.
• Give effect to laws, including those that:
  • Increase sales / use tax to 7%, as authorized by constitutional amendment.
  • Increase gasoline / diesel fuel tax and adjust annually for inflation, increase vehicle
    registration fees, and dedicate revenue for roads and other transportation purposes.
  • Expand competitive bidding and warranties for road projects.
  • Increase earned income tax credit.

   
  Should this proposal be adopted?

Not listed in this description of the ballot measure are other bills passed by the state that waits on the vote to pass. They include a new vehicle registration fee that pretends your car has the same value as when it was brand new and never decreases, and a tax on electric cars because they don’t pay fuel taxes.

If you’re not registered to vote by the end of the business day today, then you will have to live with whatever the people of Michigan who do vote decide. Election days that happen in months other than the traditional November usually have a very low turnout, which is an advantage to the people who want this tax hike bill to pass. Please take the time to register to vote today so your voice can be heard about this important ballot measure on May 5.