The Wright County Board of Commissioners tabled a decision last week on adopting a local sales tax for transportation projects.

 

In March, the county board discussed the local sales tax option, which would be used to try to catch up with some of the road projects the county has on its “need” list.

 

The highway department has identified more than $78 million in projects over the next 10 years.

 

Wright County Highway Engineer Virgil Hawkins said the sales tax could generate about $5.7 million a year to help fund some of those projects.

 

Last week, the county held a public hearing about the tax. It was well attended, and ran so long that not everyone had a chance to speak.

 

Before the board tabled their vote Tuesday, Mary Wetter from Rockford Twp. said most of the proposed projects are near, or in the cities. She said as a member of the Soil & Water Conservation District Board, she was reminded by a county commissioner not to spend all the Aquatic Invasive Species money all in one. She felt the same should apply to the tax.

 

“I think you can liken the same thought to this,” she said.

 

Hawkins agreed the list was weighted towards cities.

 

“The project list that was put together for this is required as part of adopting the sales tax. We chose to put together the list of the  projects that are needed, and they are basically in the northeast part of the county because of expansion,” he said. “Roads need to be expanded from two lanes to four lanes due to growth. We also have 300 miles of the 513 miles in our system that don’t meet state safety design standards.... Unfortunately, the current funding avenues haven’t kept pace with growth, deterioration, inflation and construction costs.”

 

He said if the tax passes, budgeted money that would have been used for the projects on the list, could be used for other projects, like resurfacing in townships.

 

Dist. 5 Commissioner Charlie Borrell said he wanted to use the tax to reduce the highway budget a bit to help taxpayers.

 

“Are we as a board going to give the highway department $5.7 million a year, or if we pass this tax, take some of the other money back and maybe use it for property tax relief?” he asked. “I’m going to have a commitment from this board. If it’s all going to the highway department, I’m a “no” vote.”

 

The board had a resolution prepared, but decided not to vote until June 13 - after the legislature finishes the 2017 session.

 

“We can see at that point if it remains status quo and we can’t count on them to help us,” said Dist. 3 Commissioner Mark Daleiden. “It will give us a better idea going forward.”