Study Focuses On Sales Tax Proposal

A new study from a Michigan State University political scientist says that even though the ballot proposal to raise the sales tax a penny may have growing support among elected officials and interest groups, it may still be in trouble.

Matt Grossman, in an article published in the journal Politics and Policy, suggests Michigan residents largely oppose paying higher taxes to fix the roads, and their minds aren’t about to be changed either.

He says if a poll comes out tomorrow and shows there is 60 percent support for the road-funding proposal, that’s bad news for those in favor of it.   Grossman says that’s because there’s little they can do on the positive campaign that’s going to increase that number, yet everything the opposition does is going to decrease that number.

Grossmann said there is a contradiction in voter attitudes on road funding: Almost everyone agrees Michigan needs more money for roads, but few favor a tax hike to generate that money. 

And he adds “information campaigns and support from political leaders aren’t likely to change their minds.”