LANSING (WWJ) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to propose a new gas tax in her effort, as she has said, to "fix the damn roads."
Sources speaking to WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick said the governor's first budget, to be outline on Tuesday, will include a 45-cent increase in Michigan's gasoline and diesel taxes to come later this year, and in 2020 -- phased in three 15-cent increments.
A spokeswoman for the Democrat confirmed her plan Monday, a day before Whitmer will present it to the Republican-led Legislature.
Tiffany Brown said Whitmer also will propose "protections to help offset the cost to people's pocketbooks," although she did not elaborate, saying the governor will share more details during her presentation Tuesday.
Also expected to get a boost in Whitmer's budget is education. Sources tell Skubick the governor will propose an increase in K-12 classroom spending, including a $180 per-student boost to the minimum allowance.
"No one's going to be surprised that my budget is gonna be focused on fixing the damn roads and closing the skills gap," Whitmer said, speaking to WWJ's Jon Hewett last week. "I am focusing on these because I know this is what will make people's lives better in our state (and) will improve businesses bottom line."
This news comes as Business Leaders for Michigan, a group of CEOs and university presidents, released a report Monday emphasizing the need for a big influx of road funding.
The business group stopped short of backing a specific plan other than to say it is open to increased user fees, which BLM President and CEO Doug Rothwell said could include a gas tax. Rothwell said the roads are an "embarrassment" and they will only get worse and become more expensive to fix unless lawmakers act.