Roads

Grand Traverse County road commission head Mary Gillis has recommended a one mil tax levy to cover additional road repair. Mary Gillis is asking for a 10-year, 1 mill property tax levy.

This comes after the commission had asked for two new road commission spots (to better represent the entire county) The cost for the additional spots would be roughly $50,000 ea year.  County commissioners Herb Lemcool and Christine Maxbauer both cited the additional cost in voting against expanding the road board.  “Why do we need to expand the road commission; it’s not going to fill any potholes, put any new asphalt down … or improve our roads,” Lemcool said. “With their budget tight this is not a good time to do it.”

Maxbauer has suggested they collect suggestions from  employees on cost savings instead of adding a tax on residents who cannot afford it at this time, and to NOT add the one mil.  I am paraphrasing, but she has suggested the “top 25 Dumb things that the road commission does to waste money could be examined.”

I agree.  As budgets tighten, the “road” to financial wellness in government operations is reduction in overhead, and accountability.  This crisis was not unforeseen, but has been exacerbated by the reduction in funds generated by gas revenues.  Though the state sales tax portion of the gas taxes rises, the constitutionally mandated amounts for roads has apparently been reduced. Tough ?  Yes, but not yet worthy of attaching 10 years worth of taxes and further allowing the continued waste to go on in our road commission.

This could be happening in your county as well?