The Michigan Chamber of Commerce is staying on the sidelines concerning the state’s May 5 road and sales tax proposal.
President and CEO Rich Studley says while they appreciate the governor’s push to fix Michigan’s roads, there’s not a consensus within the chamber’s membership to support or oppose the statewide ballot proposal.
The business group, which has about 6,700 members, has long supported the governor’s campaign to increase spending for road and bridge repairs, but some business owners are concerned a sales tax increase could affect retail sales.
Proposal 1 would increase the sales tax from 6% to 7% in an effort to raise more than a billion dollars a year for roads. It would also trigger a series of other laws to raise money for schools, cities and transportation projects.