The five-year fee will increase the street department’s budget from $ 400,000 to $ 2.5-3 million a year for road repairs.
FREMONT, Ohio – After the fee was rejected Fremont voters last year the city again asked its residents to pass a half-percent increase in income tax on road repairs.
Bill Gunn has been head of the Fremont Street Department for nearly 12 years.
He says his department has allocated only about $ 400,000 to repair the streets, which currently allows them to work on only a few roads a year.
In this regard, the city is asking voters to introduce a 5-year income tax, intended solely for road repairs.
If approved, Gun’s street budget will increase to $ 2.5-3 million a year.
“It’s a lot to do a lot of different projects. We’re not going to stay in one area of the city, we’re going to work four quadrants. Everyone pays taxes. We want to make sure we distribute it,” Gong said.
Along with repairing long ignored roads, additional funding will allow Fremont to qualify for more ODOT projects, as these projects come with a local matching requirement.
Gong says they will not only focus on major highways once tolls are introduced, but will also make sure smaller roads in the city also receive due attention.
“You know, we don’t want to ignore people because the most important way to them is the way they live,” Gong said.
If voters approve a half percent income tax next week, the city of Fremont will start collecting that extra income early in the new year with the expectation that construction should begin around this time in 2023.
