One of the discussion topics in this session of the Indiana General Assembly is to come up with a funding mechanism to fix local roads and streets.
I recently had the opportunity to listen to House Speaker Brian Bosma’s as he presented his plan on how to provide long-term funding to improve our infrastructure. Gov. Mike Pence also chimed in with a plan to tap into surplus funds to remedy the problem.
I believe that our legislators all agree that we need to address our failing infrastructure and that the formula used to fund highways is antiquated.
I agree with this, but I would want to take it a step further.
When funds are allocated to municipalities for road work, less than 14.3 percent of the moneys collected are distributed to local government units like Beech Grove. Most funds go to the state or to county government, and that formula for funding also needs to change.
My argument to that point is that roads under local government control fail as well, and with tight budgets it becomes more difficult to find funds to make needed improvements.
Hopefully, legislation will be passed to provide more funding to fix local roads and streets. We sure could use the help.
Dennis B. Buckley
Mayor of Beech Grove