City manager counting council votes on doubling gas tax

gas pump

Bloomington aldermen are close to making a decision whether to double the local gas tax to pay for street repairs. (Pixabay/IADE-Michoko)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason is providing some intrigue to the release in a few days of the next city council agenda.

At Monday night’s committee-of-the-whole meeting, Gleason said he’ll place on the agenda a proposed gas tax hike only if he believes a majority of council members are in favor of the idea.

The council is considering whether to double the local motor fuel tax to eight cents per gallon. The increase would generate an estimated $2.3 million a year to repair crumbling streets, which city leaders acknowledge have been neglected over the years.

Ward 6 Alderman Karen Schmidt, who’s up for re-election April 2, said constituents have been making a lot of suggestions, including levying a temporary gas tax hike.

“I’ve heard suggestions that we have a very specific sunset around this, that we try it for a year or two years, let the public see what we’re capable of doing, and then move it forward,” said Schmidt.

Mayor Tari Renner favors raising the gas tax.

“Streets don’t pave themselves,” said Renner.

“If it’s not a four cent a gallon gas tax, or whatever it is, if it’s a reallocation of money, then what is it? We need answers to these questions,” the mayor said.

Ward 3 Alderman Mboka Mwilambwe worries the city might not be able to manage the public’s expectations for filling potholes and making other repairs.

“I’m worried that next year, people will see similar things. They see potholes.  Often times, people travel the same path, and if all they see is potholes, they’re going to assume that the work is not getting done,” said Mwilambwe.

According to Gleason, there would be a link to the city’s website showing the work that’s being done during construction season.

“It’s going to have tons of pictures. ‘This is what it looked like in June. This is what it looked like in July,’ and have signage saying that this is your local motor fuel tax dollars at work,” the city manager said.

The council meets again next Monday night at 6 p.m.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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