How other states fund roads could fix Michigan potholes

By DARCIE MORAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan and nearby states might share road funding concerns, but the Mitten might not have access to the same solutions. Michigan’s road funding is unique because of its comparatively low gas and diesel taxes, lower taxes for diesel than gas and an unusual funding formula that sends a disproportionate amount of money to rural areas, said Kenneth Boyer, a Michigan State University professor of economics. Indiana has dealt with cost issues by privatizing a toll road and increasing fuel tax revenue, said Indiana Department of Transportation media relations director Will Wingfield. That can’t work here, Boyer said. Michigan has no tolls, only bridges.