Oakland County's road agency warns that suspending Michigan’s gas tax without replacing the revenue could disrupt road projects and snow plowing.
Craig Bryson, senior communications manager for the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), told WXYZ 7 News Detroit that the agency receives about $10 million monthly from fuel taxes. Losing that funding without replacement revenue “would impact almost everything we do,” he said.
RCOC maintains the largest county road system in Michigan, covering more than 2,700 miles of roads, nearly all 230 miles of state highways in Oakland County, 1,500 traffic signals and more than 100,000 road signs, according to the agency's road-funding guide. Cities and villages maintain their own neighborhood streets, while responsibility for major roads varies by community.
RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar sent a letter to local state lawmakers asking them to oppose the suspension, WXYZ reported Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Bryson said a pause without replacement funding would halt local road projects and put snow plowing in jeopardy. The agency’s funding guide, updated in April, reported about 20 vacant snowplow driver positions at that time.
The push to suspend Michigan's 52.4-cent-per-gallon gas tax has gained traction as prices remain above $4 a gallon statewide, driven by the ongoing conflict with Iran. As of Sept. 17, Michigan's average was $4.75 per gallon, more than 30 cents above the national average, Bridge Michigan reported. Some metro Detroit stations had crossed $5.
Indiana and Ohio have already suspended their gas taxes, through Nov. 4 and Jan. 2, 2027, respectively, according to WXYZ.
The idea faces resistance in Lansing. Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, a Richland Township Republican, told Bridge Michigan in September that suspending the tax would jeopardize a bipartisan 2025 road-funding deal. That deal shifted money paid at the pump directly to road repairs. WXYZ reported that Hall's representatives said he would be open to sending a bill to the governor but that there were not enough votes in the state Senate.
RCOC's board approved a $269.8 million budget for fiscal year 2027 on Sept. 24. That is a $76.4 million increase over the adopted fiscal 2026 budget, driven largely by higher federal funds, increased state road funding and local government contributions, according to an RCOC budget announcement. The agency expects about $182 million of that total from state road funding.
The gas tax debate has also surfaced in the governor's race. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Rep. John James traded barbs over the issue in a recent debate, with both candidates running to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
In an Oct. 9 legislative update, the Michigan Association of Counties said the Senate had considered a 90-day gas-tax suspension proposal but taken no action on it.
