The Michigan Legislature has a multi-bill package that would help raise $1 billion to address the state’s crumbling roads.

The bills should become one of its top priorities.

Put simply, the state cannot compete for jobs by letting its infrastructure resemble that of a third-world country. The $1 billion is a conservative amount; Gov. Rick Snyder has called for $1.4 billion to repair the state’s infrastructure.

This is where doing the right thing and doing the expedient thing will separate those who understand their job as lawmakers and those who are more concerned with their own political fortunes.

As introduced, the package would cost motorists about 9 cents more for a gallon of gas, as the current gas tax of 19 cents per gallon switches to a wholesale tax that would translate to about 28 cents per gallon.

Another part of the plan would increase annual vehicle registration fees, with more valuable vehicles seeing higher fees. The increase would average about $60 per vehicle.

No one is going to be excited about an increase in the gas tax. But there is no viable alternative. The state has not increased its gas tax in some 15 years. And in that time, the money collected from the tax has become a smaller share of the state’s road budget. That’s not a sustainable formula for keeping the state’s roads in acceptable condition.

Likewise, higher registration fees will pain drivers as well. But the primary users of roads: Those who register vehicles and buy gasoline, should be the people paying for their upkeep.

The alternative is for lawmakers to roll up their sleeves and find a billion dollars or more elsewhere in the state budget. Odds of that are about as good as winning the next PowerBall drawing.

Of course, Michigan could just live with crumbling roads. But that’s hardly fitting with the image of the state that put the nation and the rest of the world on wheels, is it?

No, we need and rely on our roads. Keeping them in good condition is a quality of life issue and an economic development issue.

There is room for discussing various ways of raising the money, but the money must be raised. But 2012 is an election year; some lawmakers will lack courage.

Those who care about Michigan’s future must insist their lawmakers support a road proposal with at least $1 billion of funding. There is no acceptable alternative.