Highway commissioners discuss bond proposal

The $575 million highway bond package will either be on the ballot for the 2008 general election or a special election prior to that, say members of the commission.

Act 511 (signed into law on March 27) allows the governor to place the proposal on the ballot, and the bonds would be financed by (1) the four cent per gallon diesel tax and (2) federal highway appropriations. No bonds are allowed to be issued after Dec. 31, 2013, which differentiates this proposal from the similar failed proposal of 2005.