The Peoria City Council approved a budget that more than doubles the amount of money it spends on road maintenance next year. The Council signed off on property, motor fuel and hotel taxes that would put more than $5 million in the city’s road budget. City Manager Patrick Urich says the investment speeds up planned improvements:
“Beginning next year, we’ll be able to accelerate some arterial street projects. We’ll have a larger pavement preservation program that we have for our residential streets.”
City Public Works Director Mike Rogers says the new revenue means tackling new projects:
“We had this major challenge of all of these roads that were beyond preserving in neighborhoods. Now we’re going to have the opportunity to start to address those neighborhood roads and starts to rebuild those along with all the major arterials as well.”
Urich says the property tax hike means the owner of a $100,000 home would spend an additional $48 a year for road maintenance.