Proposal M

Article V

Sec. 28: There is hereby established a state highway commission, which shall administer the state highway department and have jurisdiction and control over all state trunkline highways and appurtenant transportation commission, which shall establish policy for the state transportation department transportation programs and facilities, and such other public works of the state, as provided by law.

Members; number, term.

The state highway transportation commission shall consist of four six members, not more than two three of whom shall be members of the same political party. They shall be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate for four-year three-year terms, no two three of which shall expire in the same year, as provided by law.

State highway director.

The state highway commission shall appoint and may remove a state highway director, who shall be a competent highway engineer and administrator. He The director of the state transportation department shall be appointed as provided by law and shall be the principal executive officer of the state highway transportation department and shall be responsible for executing the policy of the state highway transportation commission.

Article IX

Sec. 9: All specific taxes, except general sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, imposed directly or indirectly on fuels sold or used to propel motor vehicles upon highways and to propel aircraft and on registered motor vehicles and aircraft shall, after the payment of necessary collection expenses, be used exclusively for highway transportation purposes as defined by law set forth in this section.

Not less than 90 percent of the specific taxes, except general sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, imposed directly or indirectly on fuels sold or used to propel motor vehicles upon highways and on registered motor vehicles shall, after the payment of necessary collection expenses, be used exclusively for the transportation purposes of planning, administering, constructing, reconstructing, financing, and maintaining state, county, city, and village roads, streets, and bridges designed primarily for the use of motor vehicles using tires, and reasonable appurtenances to those state, county, city, and village roads, streets, and bridges.

The balance, if any, of the specific taxes, except general sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, imposed directly or indirectly on fuels sold or used to propel motor vehicles upon highways and on registered motor vehicles, after the payment of necessary collection expenses; 100 percent of the specific taxes, except general sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, imposed directly or indirectly on fuels sold or used to propel aircraft and on registered aircraft, after the payment of necessary collection expenses; and not more than 25 percent of the general sales taxes, imposed directly or indirectly on fuels sold to propel motor vehicles upon highways, on the sale of motor vehicles, and on the sale of the parts and accessories of motor vehicles, after the payment of necessary collection expenses; shall be used exclusively for the transportation purposes of comprehensive transportation purposes as defined by law.

The legislature may authorize the incurrence of indebtedness and the issuance of obligations pledging the taxes allocated or authorized to be allocated by this section, which obligations shall not be construed to be evidences of state indebtedness under this constitution.

Sources

• General Election, November 7, 1978, Proposal M (Library of Michigan)
• Michigan Manual, 2021-2022, p. 100 (PDF, Legislative Service Bureau)
• Public and Local Acts of the Legislature of the State of Michigan Passed at the Regular Session of 1978, pp. 2620–2622 (HathiTrust)