The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Improvement program approved
Money from new license registration fee to help improve roads
Lake County residents will soon begin to see much-needed improvements to roads under the jurisdiction of the Lake County Engineer.
Last month, the Lake County commissioners approved an accelerated 2 1/2-year road improvement program at the recommendation of the county engineer, James Gills.
To facilitate the aggressive program, the board will consider bond financing strategies with existing revenues and a new $5 motor vehicle registration license fee.
The commissioners’ decision to approve the program will double the amount of projects that will benefit county residents and businesses in the near-term and accelerate work commencing this summer.
In collaboration with the plan presented by the county engineer,
the commissioners will leverage both current and future revenue streams to finance a comprehensive road improvement program.
Additional program details include projects in the spring of 2019, summer of 2019, spring of 2020 and summer of 2020, with an estimated investment of $11.9 million dollars into the county roadway infrastructure, according to the board.
The commissioners and county engineer will be reviewing the results and financial position of the road program during the commissioner’s annual budget hearing process beginning in 2019.
Both offices will be reviewing program expenditures to ensure the funds are financed in a transparent and sustainable manner in order to meet expectations of the communities of Lake County.
In preparation for their action, the board conducted public hearings on June 12 and June 21 where officials from the Lake County Engineer’s Office detailed the existing road conditions, rising material costs, project estimates and long-term plans for the 152 miles of roads under its jurisdiction.
“Seventy-six percent of Lake County residents live in cities,” said Gills. “The probability of these residents passing a road levy, which would tax them for county roads, is very slim, so we have to look in other areas.”
With the County Engineers Association of Ohio determining that the average life cycle of a road is seven to 10 years, the Engineer’s Office is continuing to try to find creative and efficient ways to ensure safe travel for the public, while trying to extend road surfaces longer than what is recommended.
Rising costs in concrete and asphalt have also played a factor, Gills said.
Additional program details include projects in the spring of 2019, summer of 2019, spring of 2020 and summer of 2020, with an estimated investment of $11.9 million dollars into the county roadway infrastructure, according to the board.
“Since 2002, asphalt reconstruction (project) costs have increased by 227 percent, with asphalt resurfacing projects increasing by 217 percent. During that same period, the Engineer’s overall budget has risen roughly 27 percent.”
Cuyahoga and Geauga counties already implemented permissive taxes in 2017.
Another factor is the state’s gas tax, 28 cents per gallon, with the last increase being six cents, also in 2002. Overall, throughout Ohio, gas tax revenue is down by $8 million over the last eight years. The biggest factors being less consumption, higher fuel efficiency and alternative-fuel vehicles.
The new $5 License Tax is estimated to generate $1,250,000 per year. All generated funds are designated for infrastructure improvements. The collection of the new tax begins in January, but can begin as soon as November (if two-year option is being purchased).
The County Engineer’s Office intends to use the funds created by the increase added to existing funds to improve 63.28 miles of roads over the next five years.
While the improvement program resolution was voted for unanimously, only Commissioners Jerry Cirino and John Hamercheck voted for the License Tax, with Commissioner Dan Troy voting against the fee increase.
“There’s been a real need and been a significant backlog of work, 10 to 12 years’ worth,” Hamercheck said. “This gives us an incredible opportunity to do this in 2
1/2 years. That’s historic and unprecedented. We can double the projects and cut the time by half. Nothing like this has ever been engaged in Lake County.”
Cirino also detailed the overall benefit of both resolutions.
“We all drive around Lake County quite a bit and one of the hottest topics amongst people is the condition of the roads,” he said. “It’s our responsibility to make sure the infrastructure is taken care of. Our residents need and deserve good roads. No one wants to add a tax, but this is good for the county.”
Troy, however, said he isn’t certain an additional tax increase is necessary, adding that the conditions of the county roads have gotten as bad as they are due to so much money being poured into one project.
“About $8 million of that auto license and gas tax money that should have been spent on these county roads has gone to that (Vrooman Road) bridge,” he said. “This is a $5 increase on every registered motor vehicle in the county. Let’s face it — this money is pretty much all going to be spent in the unincorporated areas in the eastern end of the county.
“Part of my voting against this is based on the fact that I don’t think the revenue stream is necessary, and second, do I really want to impose an additional fee on people in Mentor, Willoughby, Wickliffe, Willowick, Eastlake and Kirtland when they won’t see any benefit from any of these dollars? I make these decisions on a pragmatic basis, not a political basis.”