COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County voters also joined others in the state in turning down the proposed 1% increase in Michigan’s sales tax to fund roads with the issue falling in the county 5,911 to 2,246. Statewide, the loss was history making for Michigan 80% to 20%, the largest ever percentage defeat for a proposed Michigan constitutional amendment.
Branch County’s representative in the Michigan House, Republican Eric Leutheuser of Hillsdale, said Proposal One lost simply because it was too big and too complicated. He also said while there’s no plan in place to address the road repair funding dilemma, it’s clear the people of Michigan want something done and the legislature won’t give up on finding a solution that has to stay clear of what hasn’t worked before.
Just under 21% of Branch County’s 35,000 registered voters went to the polls yesterday while in the Coldwater School District, the biggest turnout was in the third ward of the City of Coldwater at 41%.
