Flossmoor voters to decide on $10M bond to fix streets

Fixing streets and sidewalks and addressing chronic flooding issues in and around Flossmoor’s downtown are the goals of a $10 million bond issue residents will decide in this fall’s election.

If approved, village officials said money would be used to improve streets in poor condition throughout the community.

Flossmoor and other communities typically rely on motor fuel tax revenue as the primary funding source to fix streets, but officials said those tax funds have been in decline, so fewer streets are repaired and the village has dipped into its general fund the past three years.

Officials also say bond proceeds will be used to address flooding on Flossmoor Road at the viaduct under the Canadian National Railway and Metra tracks.

In 2005, the village had a $2.7 million plan to resolve the problem, but expanded the scope of the work to include addressing persistent flooding problems in residential areas near downtown, officials said.

In information provided to residents about the proposed bond sale, Flossmoor said the flood mitigation work could cost between $5.7 million and $6.5 million.

Flossmoor earlier this year applied for grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If there is no grant money coming, the village has identified fixing the flooding as a priority, meaning less money would be available for street and sidewalkwork.

To keep up with deteriorating streets, officials said the village tries to resurface 2.5 miles each year, but with available funds has managed to fix about 1 mile annually. Because the general fund pays for key village services such as public safety, the village said continuing to tap the fund to help pay for roadwork isn’t financially sustainable.

Many communities have noted that motor fuel tax revenue has been on the decline as vehicles become more fuelefficient and the use of electric and hybrid vehicles broadens.

Illinois’ fuel tax doubled last year, to 38 cents per gallon from the 19 cents it had been at since 1990. The expected increased revenue is meant to help pay for the state’s $45 billion capital spending plan.

Flossmoor officials say that even with the doubling of the tax they don’t expect the tax revenue to keep pace with the cost of street maintenance.

If the full $10 million in bond revenue were available and none of it had to be used for flood control work, it would be enough to rehab 20 miles of streets, or 75% of what has been identified as streets determined to be most in need of attention, according to the village.

Village officials said taxpayers would pay roughly the same in taxes that are now collected to pay the principal and interest on bonds sold to build a new public library.

The annual levy for that debt is $623,000, and those bonds will be paid off next year, according to the village, which estimates it will need $643,000 a year in tax revenue to pay interest and principal on the new debt.

Officials said the state’s capital bill earmarks $162,000 for Flossmoor for road repairs and $500,000 for the viaduct flooding issue, but officials said that because those funds have yet to be received it can’t depend on the money.