Proposal 1 Headed to Defeat

Proposal 1 appears to have been defeated.

The ballot measure called for an increase in Michigan’s 6 percent sales tax to 7 percent to raise $1.3 billion more a year to improve the state’s roads and bridges.

In Macomb County, with 35 percent of precincts reporting, opponents of Proposal 1 have a large lead. Roughly 87 percent voted “no”, while 13 percent voted “yes.”

The margin of defeat is only slightly smaller in Oakland County.  With 98 percent of precincts reporting, 77 percent of voters cast their ballots against the measure, while 23 percent voted in favor of Proposal 1.

The margin is slightly smaller in Washtenaw County.  With 60 percent of the vote counted, the “no” vote leads “yes” by a margin of 63 to 37 percent.

We’re still waiting for results from Wayne County.

Governor Rick Snyder issued the following statement Tuesday evening, acknowledging the measure’s defeat.

“It’s essential that making Michigan’s infrastructure safer remains a top priority. While voters didn’t support this particular proposal, we know they want action taken to maintain and improve our roads and bridges. The ‘relentless’ part of relentless positive action means that we start anew to find a comprehensive, long-term solution to this problem. Doing nothing isn’t an option as the costs are too great. Michiganders need to be able to get behind the wheel and not worry about dodging potholes or seeing plywood to catch crumbling concrete under overpasses. We appreciate that this bipartisan plan was supported by so many groups – business leaders and unions, public safety officials and local governments, teachers, and the list goes on. I plan to work with my partners in the Legislature on a solution that gives Michigan residents the safe roads they need and deserve and bolsters our growing economy.”

-Governor Rick Snyder