8:29 AM
the matching road funds dilemma
Unknown
I am from a small county, Mercer. I have been the county treasurer there since December 1, 1994. My county has had problems with getting funds from the State of Illinois. The state can't keep up with the matching dollars for projects. As far as the federal dollars go....we're good.
For instance, if a bridge project is done, the federal bridge money comes through, however the state money does not. The Illinois Department of Transportation can't keep up. So what has happened is that the federal money is "parked" until the state can come up with a match!
We would be far better off if the state would pool all the match dollars for a particular county and give the money to the county with the understanding that the county will do with the money what needs to be done. For a small county like Mercer, we might have more projects on the drawing board than a large county! That might be hard to comprehend, but it's true. Most of those projects in Mercer County, if not all, are bridge projects. The time I checked, bridges are very important!!
What's the solution? Change the system. But when legislators ask the Illinois Department of Transportation about a change, they are told everything is fine. Everything is not fine, but why quabble with a state agency?
If elected, I will go about changing the system on how matching dollars are distributed. An investigation into the validity of this initiative is warranted since the County Highway Engineers Association is lobbying for such a move. They are up against a tough obstacle, a state agency! In this case, seems as if government can't get out of their own way!
For instance, if a bridge project is done, the federal bridge money comes through, however the state money does not. The Illinois Department of Transportation can't keep up. So what has happened is that the federal money is "parked" until the state can come up with a match!
We would be far better off if the state would pool all the match dollars for a particular county and give the money to the county with the understanding that the county will do with the money what needs to be done. For a small county like Mercer, we might have more projects on the drawing board than a large county! That might be hard to comprehend, but it's true. Most of those projects in Mercer County, if not all, are bridge projects. The time I checked, bridges are very important!!
What's the solution? Change the system. But when legislators ask the Illinois Department of Transportation about a change, they are told everything is fine. Everything is not fine, but why quabble with a state agency?
If elected, I will go about changing the system on how matching dollars are distributed. An investigation into the validity of this initiative is warranted since the County Highway Engineers Association is lobbying for such a move. They are up against a tough obstacle, a state agency! In this case, seems as if government can't get out of their own way!