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Bernero: The state of the city of Lansing is strong. The state of the city's roads not so good.

Steve Carmody
/
Michigan Radio
“Right now, the state of Michigan has a $1 billion surplus. I have an idea. Let’s put people back to work by investing some of that money in our crumbling roads," says Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero";s:

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero used his State of the City speech Thursday to make a pitch for state funding to repair local roads.

Mayor Virg Bernero says the city of Lansing plans to spend three million dollars this year to repair pot hole covered roads in the capitol city. 

But the mayor says the city would have to spend five times that much each year for a decade to fix all of Lansing’s road problems.

In his speech, Bernero called on state lawmakers to use part of the state’s billion dollar budget surplus to help repair local roads across Michigan.

“Please call you legislators. Call the governor. Help me send them a message. Fix the roads Now,” Bernero told his audience. 

Governor Snyder is expected to call for more state road funding when he delivers his budget message next week.  

Republican state lawmakers have shown more interest in using the surplus to fund a tax cut.

In his State of the City address, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said the capitol city’s finances are improving. He’s projecting the city will have a balanced budget next year for the first time in a decade.

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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