Miami County Engineer Paul Huelskamp explained the proposal Tuesday during the first of two public hearings. The second is scheduled for Tuesday, June 26, at 9:10 a.m.
Huelskamp said the county paved 24.04 miles in 2017. He noted, however, the industry standard for repaving is every 10 years. To meet that standard, the county would need to pave about 42.35 miles per year.
Huelskamp said the added money would help the county get to a 15-year cycle. The county is responsible for 424 miles of road.
The $5 supplemental tax would generate an estimated $552,000 to $649,000 more a year. That would allow for seven to nine more miles of paving annually, Huelskamp said.
County Commissioner Greg Simmons said he has had several people call him complaining about the condition of county roads in the 18 months since he joined the commission.
“I have had one call about the license plate tax. It seems to me more people favor getting more done,” he said.
If the commission approved the supplemental tax by the end of July, it would go into effect in 2019.
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