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A rough road near the Michigan Capitol in Lansing on November 14, 2014.

(Jonathan Oosting | MLive.com)

LANSING, MI — The more details that Michigan voters learn about the May 5 road funding ballot proposal, the less they like it, according to the results of a new statewide poll.

EPIC/MRA, in a survey of 600 likely voters conducted Saturday through Tuesday, found that 46 percent of respondents would vote "yes" or lean in that direction after hearing a basic explanation of the proposal, compared to 41 percent who would likely say "no" and 10 percent who were undecided or refused to answer.

Overall support dropped to just 38 percent when respondents were read a longer description of the proposal, including an overview of companion legislation that would also take effect. Roughly 47 percent of residents were opposed and 15 percent were undecided.

Bernie Porn, partner and president at the Lansing-based polling firm, said ballot proposal backers typically hope to see support in the high 50s or 60 percent before launching a campaign.

Having voter support start out at 46 percent “is a problem,” said Porn, “and when they hear details, support moves dramatically against it. I had assumed that sweetening the deal would cause people to move toward it, but all of the complicated tax changes I think are the problem.

“The numbers dropped like a stone.”

The operator poll, which included a 20 percent cell phone sample, is the first of its kind in the state since Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders arrived at a road funding deal last month. Another firm conducted an automated survey last week.

The Michigan Legislature signed off on the package during the lame-duck session. A proposed modification of the state sales tax will also require voters approval for an amendment to the state constitution.

The ballot proposal itself will ask voters to increase the state sales tax from six percent to seven percent but exempt fuel. The total package is expected to generate $1.3 billion a year for roads and bridges, $300 million for the School Aid Fund and $95 million for local governments.

Companion legislation would also increase fuel taxes, eliminate annual registration fee discounts, increase fees for heavy trucks, create a surcharge for electric vehicles and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, providing about $300 a million a year in targeted tax relief for low-income families.

The poll focused on financial details of the road funding proposal, but Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and other supporters have stressed the societal costs of crumbling roads and bridges, including repairs bills for motorists who strike potholes and dangers associated with dodging them.

"It's really about public safety," Snyder said Thursday morning in a phone interview with WRJ-AM 760, which broadcast Paul W. Smith's show live from the MLive Lansing hub.

“It’s a scary experience having a tire blowout, all those kind of things, worrying about what can happen on the roads, let alone the expense. If we can fix these potholes, we reduce the safety risk and you’ve saved a lot of money.”

The fledgling road funding campaign has a number of high-profile supporters, including Snyder, but it appears to be off to a slow start.

A group of consultants who were expected to work on the campaign withdrew this week, according to John Truscott of the Truscott Rossman public relations firm, who cited “philosophical differences” on strategy.

Poll questions and results are below:

If Proposal 1 is approved by voters, the state sales tax would be increased from 6 to 7 cents on the dollar, to provide 1.3 billion dollars per year in increased funding for road improvements, along with 300 million dollars per year in additional funding for local public schools, and 95 million dollars in new revenue funding for local governments to provide services. Based on this description and what you may know or have heard or read about Proposal 1, if the election were held today and you voted, would you vote YES to approve of Proposal 1, or would you vote NO to oppose it?

33% Yes

13% Lean toward Yes

46% TOTAL VOTE YES

41% TOTAL VOTE NO

35% No

6% Lean toward No

13% Undecided/Refused

Now I would like to read a more detailed statement about Proposal 1. Increasing the state sales tax from 6 to 7 cents would raise about 1.6 billion dollars per year, with 1.3 billion dollars going to state road, street and bridge improvements; 300 million dollars per year in new increased funding going to local public schools, equal to about $200 per pupil; 112 million dollars going to mass transit services; and 95 million dollars in increased revenue sharing going to local governments. The sales tax increase would replace the 752 million dollars in revenue that currently goes to schools and local governments that has been generated by the existing 6 percent sales tax charged on gasoline at the pump, which would be eliminated. Also, the existing gas tax and diesel fuel tax would be replaced with a tax charged at the wholesale level, resulting in an estimated 3 cent per gallon gas tax increase above 2013 levels. Vehicle registration fees would increase by eliminating a 10 percent per year discount new car buyers receive for the first three years they own their cars, as well as increasing registration fees for hybrid and electric vehicles, which will raise an additional 45 million dollars. It will also increase annual fees for heavy commercial trucks by 50 million dollars. The Earned Income Tax Credit, which was reduced in 2011, would be fully restored; which will provide about $300 per year in tax relief for low- income families. Universities would no longer be funded from the state School Aid Fund, meaning funding from that source could only be used for local public schools and community colleges. After hearing this detailed statement about Proposal 1, the sales tax proposal, let me ask you again, if the election were held today, would you vote YES to approve of a sales tax increase, or NO to oppose it?

26% Yes

12% Lean toward Yes

38% TOTAL VOTE YES

47% TOTAL VOTE NO

38% No

9% Lean toward No

15% Undecided/Refused

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.