By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said Monday night he favors a four-cent per gallon hike in the local gasoline tax to repair crumbling streets.
Renner commented after a committee-of-the-whole meeting in which staffers and the city council discussed the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The gas tax increase would raise an estimated $2.3 million, which Renner said would allow the city to catch up on fixing roads that have been neglected for years.
City staffers have budgeted $5 million for road improvements during the fiscal year starting in July. That’s about $1 million short of what the public works director believes is necessary to adequately do the job.
Alderman Karen Schmidt is concerned the city might raise the local motor fuel tax when the Illinois General Assembly is considering raising the state’s motor fuel tax.
Schmidt asked, “Do we have any sense of what balls might be in the air there and how we could end up with something where people really are driving around Bloomington and potentially Normal?”
Renner said he’s not willing to wait for state government action.
“If we waited for the State of Illinois or Springfield to be rational or actually make decisions, that would never get anything done,” said Renner.
“So we’ve got to make the decisions here in our community, in Bloomington.”
Alderman Mboka Mwilambwe thinks residents might be persuaded a motor fuel tax hike is a good idea if they understand how the city would spend the money.
“Nobody likes to increase taxes, but I think there maybe some interest on the part of the public if they see some clear return on the investment,” said Mwilambwe.
Renner believes a gas tax increase is the fairest way to raise money. He estimated about 30 percent of gas tax revenue comes from motorists who don’t live in Bloomington and yet they contribute to the wear and tear of city streets.
City staffers will introduce the proposed city budget next month. A public hearing is set for March 11, and the council is scheduled to take final action on the spending plan at its April 8 meeting.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
