(Spirit Lake)– Some major changes could be coming in how Iowa’s Road Use Tax funds are distributed.
Dickinson County Engineer Dan Eckert says it would basically shift more of the cost of maintaining roads onto local governments.
He says a state committee is working on proposed changes to be presented during the upcoming legislative session. Eckert says one of those would have the state transferring jurisdiction of some highways that start and end in the county to the county. For example, in Dickinson county Highways 86, 276, 327 and old Highway 71 in the Maywood area would be turned over to the county. Eckert says that obviously would be a huge financial burden. And he says one of the roads proposed for transfer doesn’t even fit the guidelines. Highway 86 actually goes into Minnesota…where it connects with Highway 60 at Windom.
Other proposals being considered would have towns with less than 500 population having their streets maintained by the county; and Eckert says an increase in registration fees for pickups is being considered.
Eckert presented his concerns to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday. They directed him to write a letter to D-O-T commissioners expressing the county’s concern and opposition to such a proposal.
Eckert says the committee plans to make a recommendation to the legislature by November 29th.
A similar transfer of jurisdiction proposal is in the works in Minnesota.
