The Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) says now is the time for legislators to act and fix our transportation system in its new “Don’t Forget About Our Roads” ad campaign. MTT launched this campaign on Monday in the midst of pothole season – a time when it is most evident that our roads and bridges are in dire need of funding.
The advertising campaign includes radio and billboards reminding legislators, “Don’t Forget About Our Roads.” The point of the advertising is to remind legislators that there is more work to be done besides balancing the general fund budget and replacing the Single Business Tax during this session. The radio ad can be listened to online at www.drivemi.org.
MITA has been ratcheting up the pressure inside the capitol building as well, continuing to meet with legislative leaders and preparing for the introduction of legislation. Mike Nystrom testified this week before the Senate Transportation Committee, outlining the need for a significant increase in transportation dollars and unveiling MITA’s $1 billion plan.
In addition to legislative meetings, MITA has taken the show on the road, doing road funding presentations to the general membership of a number of MTT coalition members including American Council of Engineering Companies, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and the County Road Association of Michigan. Other presentations are forthcoming to the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Association of Counties and others.
In other legislative news, Nystrom testified last week before the House Transportation Committee in favor of House Bill 4067. Under the legislation, job site deliveries of pre-cast concrete products would once again be charged sales tax on a quarterly basis rather than a monthly basis. Current law allows businesses which sell materials to an owner, contractor, or a subcontractor for the purpose of making an improvement to real property to file on a quarterly basis. Under a recent administrative ruling by the Department of Treasury, such pre-cast concrete products no longer qualified to pay taxes quarterly.
If you have any questions, please contact Mike Nystrom, Vice President of Government & Public Relations at mikenystrom@mi-ita.com or Keith Ledbetter, Director of Legislative Affairs at keithledbetter@mi-ita.com, or call the MITA office at (517) 347-8336.
