Over the past decade, the amount of money available to maintain our road system has been static, if not declining. At the same time, the costs associated with maintaining roads have been steadily increasing. Over the last decade, county road commissions and local DPWs have been restructuring their organizations to try and keep the roads in operational order. However, they are battling a war of attrition.
SEMCOG works with the seven counties in Southeast Michigan to inspect over 20,000 miles of major roads. All roads are inspected at least once every two years. This is a legal requirement. In 2004, just 11 percent of the roads in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Saint Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties were considered in “poor” condition. By 2012, that percentage had jumped to 30 percent. This decline happened despite the large one-time infusion of funding through the federal stimulus.
Most citizens of Michigan are unaware of how little goes into supporting Michigan’s road system, compared to other states. The latest information from the U.S. Census report on State and Local Finances by Level of Government indicates that Michigan spent around $143 per person on road construction in 2010, much lower than the national average of $292. There are many areas of state government spending where government officials are proud to boast that we are spending significantly less than other states. Road maintenance should not be one of them.
Many local governments have resorted to looking to local taxpayers to fund desperately needed road projects. This usually means a request for a dedicated millage for roads. Higher property taxes are not a long-term solution to fixing roads.
We need to urge our legislators to do the following: Find a long-term solution for Michigan’s road funding needs. The solution must have a natural growth pattern that allows the fund to grow without the need to return for a legislative fix every few years. The solution must be of sufficient scope to solve the problem. No more kicking the funding can down the road.
Michael Sedlak, chair, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), and Green Oak Charter Township Clerk
Joan Gebhardt, SEMCOG first vice chair, Schoolcraft College treasurer
Kathy Vosburg, SEMCOG vice chair, and Macomb County Commissioner
Jeffrey Jenks, SEMCOG vice chair, and Huntington Woods Commissioner.
