UP Gazette

State Representative Dave Prestin has voiced opposition to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's recent roads plan, which involves increasing taxes to finance the proposal. Prestin expressed appreciation for the governor’s renewed interest in road planning but criticized the tax hikes as harmful, particularly for the Upper Peninsula.

“A lot of time behind the windshield is a fact of life in the Upper Peninsula. Groceries, school, work, and everything else can be upwards of 40 minutes away,” said Prestin, R-Cedar River. “We know that our local roads have been neglected for far too long and that something has to get done as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the Governor’s proposal depends on irresponsible tax increases, which will be more likely to push employers out of the state rather than fix our roads.”

An MLive report from last year ranked Michigan counties based on road conditions reported by state officials. Four counties in the Upper Peninsula were among those with the worst road conditions: Menominee (1), Schoolcraft (3), Delta (6), and Dickinson (8). The report indicated that 70% of roads in the U.P. are in poor condition.

“U.P. road commissions often have just as many road miles to manage as those in counties with much larger populations, which means that our commissioners have to try to do just as much work with a much smaller tax base,” Prestin said. “Our local officials have been doing the absolute best with what they have. The state has known for a long time that local roads are in the most urgent need of repairs. It’s time for the state to put its money where its mouth is and reprioritize funding to support local roads.”

Prestin mentioned that House Republicans have proposed their own plan to allocate $3.1 billion annually for roads without raising taxes. This plan emphasizes redirecting funds from corporate welfare programs towards critical infrastructure projects and ensuring all fuel taxes—amounting to $945 million annually—are used directly for road funding.