Twenty-year Projected Transportation Needs: $43 million
- Trinity Gruenberg
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 16.
Transportation Sales Tax
County Engineer Anthony Maule explained that the half-percent sales tax, first implemented in 2013 and renewed in 2015 for a ten-year period, is set to expire at the end of 2025 unless further action is taken.
Maule and the commissioners reviewed how this tax has generated nearly $8 million since its inception, funding a variety of local transportation projects. These include paving, graveling, road stabilization, striping, signage, culvert replacements, and improvements to bridges and maintenance facilities. The tax revenue has been essential for maintaining and upgrading county roads that do not receive state aid or gas tax funds.
The county’s projected transportation needs over the next 20 years total approximately $43 million, covering road resurfacing, gravel improvements, stabilization, striping, signage, culverts, bridges, and maintenance facilities. Based on historical trends, the sales tax could generate between $30 million and $46 million over the next two decades, potentially covering most or all of these needs.
Board members and the public discussed the importance of prioritizing projects based on need rather than desire, ensuring that funds are distributed fairly between paved and gravel roads, and maintaining a consistent improvement schedule. There was also discussion about the impact of the tax on local property taxes, with officials noting that without the sales tax, the county would face a significant increase in levies to fund transportation projects.
The hearing included public comments and questions about project selection, the use of contractors, and the process for residents to provide input. The consensus was that the sales tax has been a valuable tool for funding critical infrastructure, reducing the burden on local taxpayers, and allowing non-residents to contribute through their purchases in the county...
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