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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1981.11.19 - 13689NOVEMBER 19, 1981 Miscellaneous Resolution # 81379 BY: AD HOC ROAD FUNDING COMMITTEE - G. William Caddell, D.C., Chairperson IN RE: ROAD SYSTEM FUNDING TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Mr . Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS throughout the nation and the state, highway and road agencies at all levels have encountered severe financial problems. The Oakland County Road Commission is no exception. Total revenues of the Road Commission will drop from $37,614,900 in 1979 to $31,630,000 in 1982; and WHEREAS in the two decades 1955-1975, state collected gas and weight taxes increased as motor vehicles, travel and highway needs increased--mainly due to the fact that increased travel meant increased motor fuel consumption and motor fuel tax revenue. Inflation was a minor factor in construction and maintenance. Motor fuel conservation and price were not factors. Where needs outpaced revenue, state legislatures, including Michigan's, made small adjustments either in gas taxes and/or weight taxes, or, in some other states, general revenue appropriations, and WHEREAS recently run-away inflation has increased road costs and is a major factor in construction, maintenance and highway safety. The close relationship between travel, road needs, fuel consumption and user-tax revenues no longer exists because of fuel conservation measures, most significantly lighter and more fuel efficient automobiles. Users of the road system are traveling more, demanding a higher level of service while at the same time using less fuel and paying fewer taxes; and WHEREAS the state legislature and governor have been slow to re-act to the prob lem of declining revenues, reduced effectiveness of those revenues because of inflation and greater demands being placed on the system; and WHEREAS there is no sure way to forecast inflation. But the National Transportation Policy Study Commission reported in 1979 that automobile and truck travel will increase by 80% and 142%, respectively, in the 1975-2000 period. Increased travel demand has always led to increased road program needs. Other studies have predicted gasoline consumption will fall 40% to 60% by 1990. Road revenues based on gasoline consumption will drop accordingly. If the road funding mechanism remains as it is today, the future will be greatly increased travel and road program needs with greatly reduced revenues. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners recognizes an immediate need to reverse the present deterioration of the road system to improve system safety and the need to educate citizens to the concept that revenue needs should be related to use of the roads, rather than the consumption of fuel. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners supports efforts to restore state collected gas and weight tax revenues to a level comparable to that which existed in 1979 1980 and based on the user-benefit concept. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners urges support of a user benefit concept as incorporated and defined by the Ohio Legislature, establishing 1979/80 as the data-base year- (handwritten insert) BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a process involving the public, business, highway users, and appropriate agencies in defining needs, funding levels and taxes to adequately and equitably provide a reasonably safe and convenient road system which is so essential to the well being of our citizens be established. MR. CHAIRPERSON, on behalf of the Ad Hoc Road funding Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. AD HOC ROAD FUNDING COMMITTEE G. William Caddell, DC #81379 November 5, 1981 Moved by Olsen supported by Montante the resolution be adopted. Moved by Montante supported by Lanni the resolution be amended by adding: "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any revenues derived from transit funds be reserved for road improvements only". The Chairperson referred the resolution with the amendment to the General Government Committee. There were no objections. Unable to recognize this page. #81379 November 19, 1981 Moved by Gabler supported by Olsen the report be accepted. A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. Moved by Gabler supported by Caddell that Resolution #81379 be adopted. Moved by Montante supported by Moffitt the resolution be amended in the 3rd BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph by adding: "; that all revenues be restricted to road improvements only". AYES: Caddell, Cagney, Fortino, Gabler, Gosling, Hobart, Jackson, Kasper, Lanni, McDonald, Moffitt, Montante, Murphy, Olsen, Patterson, Perinoff, Peterson, Wilcox. (18) NAYS: Doyon, Geary, Aaron. (3) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the amendment carried. adopted. STATE OF MICHIGAN) COUNTY OF OAKLAND) Vote on resolution as amended: AYES: Cagney, Doyon, Fortino, Gabler, Gosling, Hobart, Jackson, Kasper, Lanni, McDonald, Moffitt, Montante, Murphy, Olsen, Patterson, Perinoff, Pernick, Peterson, Price, Whitlock, Wilcox, Caddell. (22) NAYS: Geary, Aaron. (2) sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution as amended was 1, Lynn D. Allen, Clerk of the County of Oakland and having a seal, do hereby certify that I have compared the annexed copy of Miscellaneous Resolution #81379 adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners at their meeting held on November 19 1981 with the orginial record thereof now remaining in my office, and that it is a true and correct transcript therefrom, and of the whole thereof. In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County at Pontiac, Michigan this l9th day of November, 1981 LYNN D.ALLEN County Clerk/Register of Deeds