LANSING – Everyone knew this year’s array of big-ticket ballot proposals would mean a record amount of spending on ballot questions, but the reports filed Friday showing at least $134 million in funds raised by the major committees supporting and opposing the six proposals was still a jaw-dropping figure.

That figure, compiled by Gongwer News Service after reviewing all ballot committees, reflects the campaign finance reports filed in July and Friday that reflect contributions through October 21, as well as reports filed to reflect donations that came from October 22 onward.

The actual total of every ballot committee is many millions higher, however, most of the ballot committees not serving as the principal supporter or opponent sent the money they raised to the principal committees, so count the money those smaller committees raised would be counting it twice.

“Wow, we’ve had whole election cycles that were $180 million, I think. That’s just unreal,” said Rich Robinson, head of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, which tracks fundraising data. “I think it will be hard to recover common ground on some of this stuff. If the opposing sides are spending the way they are on these things, the feelings are deep.”

And the $133 million doesn’t count the many millions those fighting for and against the casino expansion proposal spent before the courts denied it ballot access.

The Moroun family set a new record – and still counting – for one group on a ballot proposal as it seeks to pass Proposal 12-6 to require an affirmative statewide vote before the state can build or finance a new international border crossing. The Morouns, owners of the Ambassador Bridge, have now poured an astonishing $31.25 million into The People Should Decide, the ballot committee backing the proposal.

The proposal drawing the most combined spending from both sides is Proposal 12-2, which would enshrine the right to collective bargaining in the Constitution and block any law infringing on that right. Groups spent an incredible $47.67 million for and against the proposal.

The other proposal with massive spending was Proposal 12-3, which would require the state’s utilities to generate 25 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2025. Total spending there by the principal committees involved was $35.5 million.

Fundraising was comparatively small for Proposals 12-1 ($2 million/emergency manager law referendum), 12-4 ($9 million/adult home help care), and 12-5 ($5.3 million/two-thirds tax supermajority).

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