Just in time for Christmas, county officials presented state lawmakers with a legislative wish list Thursday.
Local officials urged state legislators to divert fuel tax revenue to cities and counties to maintain streets and highways. That revenue is currently used to finance the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Indiana State Police, officials said.
That issue was the top priority during a brief presentation for about a dozen state representatives. The diversion of fuel taxes has caused counties to lose nearly $2 million since it started in 2003, said Beth Lock, county director of government affairs.
That money would normally be used for roads, she said.
While the county has $16.1 million budgeted toward roads and highways in 2013, it needs about $17.5 million just to maintain those roads, she said.
“That’s not including any new projects,” Lock said. “This is a huge issue in Allen County.”
County Commissioner Nelson Peters said the county continues to work with city officials on a joint legislative agenda that will address the county’s needs. The legislative session begins Jan. 7 in Indianapolis.
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