The Peoria County Board is considering options to pay for it’s road improvement program. Peoria County currently anticipates being short more than two million dollars a year in it’s road fund over the next five years.
Peoria County Administrator Scott Sorrel says without an additional funding source the county’s road improvement plan is simply unsustainable. Sorrel says the board asked more additional statistical information on the county’s past road projects to consider the potential for a tax referendum. “It could be a sales tax or it could a property tax depending on what the policy decision is. I heard that they really don’t want to rush things and try and get it to on the March primary ballot but rather look at getting it on the November ballot if that is the decision that they choose.”
Sorrel says last week a board committee rejected a penny and a half matching tax levy because he says it wouldn’t have barely scratched the surface and many board members think it’s time to send a referendum to voters.
Peoria County’s road funding issue is not unique. The federal and state motor fuel taxes have remained the same since the early 1990’s. That is compounded by the increase in fuel efficiency requirements for vehicles.
What that shift has meant to Illinois road maintenance may best be summed up by the expenses motors are encountering. The average Illinois motorist reportedly pays $441 dollars a year out of pocket for vehicle repairs because of bad roads.