1.
EDITOR'SPICK
No budget, no bridges
By EMILY SHAPIRO emily.shapiro@register-news.com Jul 1, 2016
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Editor's note: This article is the second in a three-part series looking at the state budget crisis and howit affects local residents.
MT. VERNON —The lack ofa state budget willimpact bridge constructionprojects inJeffersonCounty, accordingto CountyHighwayEngineer
BrandonSimmons.
“If(bridge projects are) state let, we're not goingto get them,”Simmons said. “We would not be able to do anyconstruction.”
Most ofthe bridge projects underwayinJeffersonCountyare part ofthe state bid-lettingprocess. The Countyworks onnot onlybridges oncounty
roadways, but withtownships for its bridges as well. This year, the countyis workingontwo township bridges withanestimated cost of$210,000
each, and a countybridge whichis estimated to cost the same.
There is a totalof$80,000 is currentlyinthe Township Bridge Fund. The Bridge Replacement Program, whichpays for 80 percent ofbridge
constructionwithinthe county, Simmons reported he was unsure howthe state budget impasse willaffect the localfunds. The BRP funds are controlled
and disbursed bythe Illinois Department ofTransportation.
The countypriorityis to replace the older constructionbridges at this time, Simmons said.
“We're close to replacingtimber bridges withconcrete structures,”Simmons said. “(The wood bridges) tend to deteriorate faster thananythingelse.”
Accordingto Simmons, the countyhas 10 more timber bridges left whichshould be completed inthe next four to five years, ifthe state releases funds to
the localhighwaydepartment.
The effect could be closed roadways and bridges.
“The longer theygo, eventuallywe willhave to close themdownand people willhave to find another wayaround,”Simmons said.
The bridge funds aren't the onlymonetaryissues affectingthe roads inJeffersonCountyifa budget isn't approved bythe the legislature and the
governor. Motor FuelTaxfunds are also onhold, and used to maintainthe counties roadways.
The state collects allmotor fueltaxes fromeachcounty, accordingto informationfromIDOT. Ofthe totalcollected, 54.4 percent goes back to local
areas — municipalities receive 49.10 percent ofthe totalfunds collected, based onpopulation; townships receive 15.89 percent ofthe totalcollected
based onthe totalmiles ofroads beingmaintained; and counties receive 18.27 percent based onthe motor vehicle license fees collected. The
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2. This Week's Circulars
distributionis different for Cook County, whichreceives 16.74 percent ofthe totaldistributiondue to its populationof1 millionor more residents.
JeffersonCountyTreasurer DanKnoxreported JeffersonCountyreceives anaverage of$43,000 monthlyinMFTfunds. The countyreceived $43,700
inMay, $43,500 inApriland $38,000 inMarch. Simmons said the countynowhas $700,000 inits MFTaccount.
Funds inthe MFTaccount willonlylast four to five months, Simmons said.
“It's fortunate to have those savings,”Simmons said. “We cankind ofcarryonfor awhile.”
However, the long-termdamage ofnot havinga state budget canripple throughout cities and townships inthe state.
“If(the) motor fueltaxdoesn't come in, the realdamage willhappenintownships,”Simmons said. “Some ofthe townships won't be able to buyrock or
oil.”
InMay, the totaltownship distributionofMFTfunds was $102,960 — whichis distributed to the 16 townships based onthe miles ofroad contained in
each— whichamounts to less than$6,000 onaverage for eachtownship.
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