After years of the Legislature’s incompetence and failure to fix our roads, our lawmakers passed the burden of making a major decision on taxes and infrastructure directly to the voters. Proposal 1, which will be on the ballot in a special election Tuesday, May 5, promises to secure funds to fix our roads after a hike in the sales and fuel tax.

The Arab American News endorses the measure.

We acknowledge that the proposal is flawed. It is confusing and does not fully address how the money raised from additional taxes will be dispersed. 

Prop 1 would raise the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent, but remove sales taxes on gas purchases. It would also raise fuel wholesale tax to 15.5 percent by 2018. An Associated Press report estimates that in three years the average driver in Michigan will likely pay $177 in additional taxes per year at the pump— more than double what we pay today.

The fuel tax would be used exclusively for fixing the roads, but the disappearing gas tax would be taken away from the general funds used for schools and other state services. The proposal will secure $300 million in extra funding for the schools and the 1 percent tax hike should make up for the gas sales tax with more money to spare. 

What this means is that we, the citizens— the consumers— will be paying more taxes to repair and maintain the roads and fund our schools.  

For years, Lansing has accomplished little for Michiganders; and Proposal 1 is the epitome of our lawmakers’ inability to address our issues. So, we have to be the responsible parties, pass the law and pick up the bill all by ourselves. 

The proposal is also problematic in the way it distributes the money generated from its provisions. For example, as Ronald Zimba of the Traverse City Investing Examiner pointed out, Prop 1 spares $1.2 billion in the first two years to pay the Michigan Department of Transportation’s $1 billion debt. That leaves $200 million wrongly allocated. 

Proposal 1 is not perfect. But it is our only option to save our roads and bridges from falling apart and for continuing the state’s recovery. We hope that Lansing politicians learn from the potholes plaguing our roads to address their duties of maintaining our infrastructure, instead of balancing the budget at the expense of vital services, then screaming for more taxes after their neglect turns catastrophic.

Based on the number of absentee ballots, Mark Grebner of Practical Political Consulting estimates that voter turnout on Tuesday will be about 20 percent. No matter what you think of the proposal, your opinion counts and can make the difference. Do not shy away from being a partner in the future of the state.

Each Arab American vote grows the political significance of the community. Vote on May 5.