To the Journal editor:

In light of the overwhelming defeat of Michigan’s ballot Proposal 1, it is obvious that both the state legislature and our governor’s office badly miscalculate the mood of the electorate in regards to adding more tax burden to our citizens.

The proposal was cumbersome and split “road funds, fees and taxes” among several recipients some of which had nothing to do with building and repairing of our transportation infrastructure.

Having served for more than 20 years in local government and business, I would heartily invite Gov. Rick Snyder, state Sen. Tom Casperson or state Rep. John Kivela to allow me to sit on a committee that will now be charged to come up with an alternative plan of funding.

In approaching the problem, I would ask two salient questions: First, how much revenue is currently being raised from all sources for road and infrastructure improvements. Second, list all areas of distribution of those funds for the past ten years.

I am sure that it will be interesting to note that not all funds go to servicing, repairing and constructing roads and bridges.

Then I would look at what types of vehicles are causing the greatest amount of ware and damage to our roads.

Does your Ford Escape or Toyota Corolla cause the same amount of ware and tare as the hundreds of 18-wheelers, logging, mine-trucks and semi’s that fill our highways on an ongoing basis?

I would inquire as to why the largest, most road damaging vehicles pay a diesel tax of only 15 cents per gallon, while light cars and trucks pay a gasoline fuel tax of 19 cents. Electric cars and busses pay no fuel tax and bikes utilizing highway funded paths also do not pay any fuel tax or license fees.

Finally, I would inform the public that an increase in the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent is not a 1 percent increase, but a 16 percent increase.

That additional amount would have to be paid on all taxable products, including high ticket items like cars, boats and RV’s, with the total burden increasing with inflation.

The media seems to get this one wrong every time. It is not as the bus driver saying, “If it is only a penny increase, sign me up.” Me too!

My offer stands as a sincere effort to help solve a real problem.

Lee Guizzetti

Ishpeming