RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) – Oneida County voters will likely see an April referendum question seeking to raise property taxes to pay for road fixes.
County leaders say they need the money because road conditions have suffered as reconstruction costs have surged. Over the last 15 years, the cost to reconstruct highways has nearly tripled, to $200,000 per mile, according to the highway department. That means the county is only reconstructing about four miles of road per year.
Oneida County Public Works Committee Chair Ted Cushing says they have 172-plus miles of roads. That would put them on a 40-year reconstruction cycle, which is not manageable. Quality roads generally last 15 to 20 years.
Cushing said a referendum is the only reasonable way to raise the money to get roads fixed faster. “As long as the state has us on a budget restraint based on net new construction, this is the only way we’re going to be able to do it. We don’t want to borrow, because once you start borrowing, it never ends…It just never ends.”
The Oneida County Board supports moving forward with a referendum that would raise $10 million over ten years to pay for road work. The question will likely appear on ballots in April, and Cushing thinks it will be backed by voters. “We feel it will be, because if you listen to your constituents tell you what lousy condition our roads are in, I think they will be appreciative of decent roads to drive on.
Homeowners would pay an additional $13 per $100,000 of property value if the referendum passes.
The county board will likely take a final vote on placing the referendum on the ballot in January.
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