From the Columbus Republic:
Although traditional funding sources have shrunk for repairing Bartholomew County roads and asphalt prices have increased, county officials aren’t worried about the immediate ability to improve roads.
That’s because an influx of Economic Development Income Tax funds has allowed the county to perform more miles of overlay — adding a layer of asphalt — this year than since 2000, and at a significantly increased pace over the last two years.
And, the county has enjoyed above-average success in obtaining state and federal grants, such as the $2.1 million federal grant obtained earlier this year for improvements to County Road 600N, said Larry Kleinhenz, president of the Bartholomew County Commissioners.
“The cash flow we’ve got now is the best we’ve had in a dozen years,” Kleinhenz said.
However, Kleinhenz expressed concern that the Bartholomew County Council may try to use more EDIT funds for other needs, based on discussions at the county’s budget hearings for 2013.
Bartholomew County Highway Department Engineer Danny Hollander said his department has received more than $1.8 million in extra funds this year. That amount includes about $1.3 million in EDIT funds and about $500,000 of the $1.6 million windfall the county received froma state accounting error. Gas tax money amounted to about $478,000.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/local_story/Repair-route-Tax-income-grants_1345432094
