The state’s 83 county road commissions, the Michigan Department of Transportation, city and township officials, truckers, and the road building industry as a whole are pushing for a $1 billion increase in funding for roads over three years, according to Brian Gutowski, engineer-manager of the Emmet County Road Commission.

Gutowski told the Emmet County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday that the proposed increase in gas tax and vehicle registration fees would almost double the amount of money that goes into the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF), which is used to maintain roads throughout the state and build new ones.

“I don’t think we’re going to get it all, but the bills that have been introduced in both houses of the Legislature would phase the increases in over a three-year period,” he said. He said the bills are waiting completion of the 2008 budget before they are brought up for a vote.