Roads & Jobs For Riley County

The county’s roads and bridges are deteriorating and there are extremely limited funds available for replacement The county’s roads and bridges are deteriorating and there are extremely limited funds available for replacement People are leaving Riley County to find better paying jobs in urban centers People are leaving Riley County to find better paying jobs in urban centers Why are we here?

Citizens Committee Formed To study & prioritize road & bridge needs in Riley County To study & prioritize road & bridge needs in Riley County Explore potential funding sources for recommendation to the County Commission Explore potential funding sources for recommendation to the County Commission

Citizens Committee Appointees Representatives were appointed from: Representatives were appointed from: –Cities in Riley County –Chamber of Commerce –School Districts –State & local elected officials –Kansas Department of Transportation –Urban Area Planning Board –Riley County Planning Board

Appointees (continued) –Township Officers Association –Kansas State University –Riley County Farm Bureau –Kansas Contractors Association –Riley County Livestock Association –Riley County Extension Council –Ecological groups –County Fire District

Appointed by the County Commission Appointed by the County Commission Tom Bennett Monty Prescott Kent ManuelJerry Petty Burke BayerNeil Horton Sig MeierBuck Gehrt Mike ShillingDick Hayter Richard Jahnke Bob Chalender Road and Bridge Advisory Board

Roads Roads –Develop and sustain a road system which will enhance the economic, social and educational growth of Riley County First Goal

Road & Bridge Inventory Riley County has Riley County has – 224 miles of roads – 128 bridges – 370 large culverts –3500 small culverts

Infrastructure Safety Issues Fatalities are five times more likely to occur on substandard county roads than on modern highways Fatalities are five times more likely to occur on substandard county roads than on modern highways Most county roads need to be reconstructed to minimum modern safety design standards Most county roads need to be reconstructed to minimum modern safety design standards Approximately half of all county bridges and culverts are unsafe and need to be replaced Approximately half of all county bridges and culverts are unsafe and need to be replaced

Safety Deficiencies Lane width too narrow Lane width too narrow Poor visibility Poor visibility Inadequate shoulders Inadequate shoulders Obstacles in and near the roadway Obstacles in and near the roadway –Bridge abutments –Trees Sharp curves Sharp curves Steep side slopes Steep side slopes

Efforts Taken to Reduce Maintenance Costs Some county roads were turned over to townships Some county roads were turned over to townships Asphalt roads were converted to lower cost gravel surfaces Asphalt roads were converted to lower cost gravel surfaces Roads are closed because some bridges and culverts have been closed Roads are closed because some bridges and culverts have been closed

Project Selection Selection Criteria Used to Prioritize Projects Selection Criteria Used to Prioritize Projects –Condition, safety, cost, traffic count, and land uses such as industrial, retail or agricultural

Project Selection 21 Projects Totaling $16 Million Were Prioritized –Distribution was county-wide –$10 million of the proposed projects in Manhattan urban area –$ 6 million of the proposed projects are in rural Riley County

Road Reconstruction Road Reconstruction $1 million needed annually Road & Bridge Needs

Road Repaving Road Repaving $460,000 needed annually Road & Bridge Needs

Bridge Replacement Bridge Replacement $340,000 needed annually Road & Bridge Needs

Culvert Replacement Culvert Replacement $200,000 needed annually Road & Bridge Needs

Results of Deferred Replacement Increased accident rates Increased accident rates Closed roads and bridges Closed roads and bridges Increased vehicle maintenance costs Increased vehicle maintenance costs Reduced speed limits Reduced speed limits Lower weight limits on bridges Lower weight limits on bridges Maintenance costs will increase Maintenance costs will increase Replacement costs will escalate Replacement costs will escalate

Jobs Jobs –Develop skilled and professional jobs to retain families in Riley County Second Goal

Loss of population Loss of population Loss of school enrollment Loss of school enrollment Young talent leaving for jobs in urban centers Young talent leaving for jobs in urban centers Unknown future of Ft. Riley (BRAC) Unknown future of Ft. Riley (BRAC) Why Do We Need Jobs in Riley County?

Purchase land and help construct sewer systems, water systems, and roads for new retail, commercial, and industrial business enterprise areas Purchase land and help construct sewer systems, water systems, and roads for new retail, commercial, and industrial business enterprise areas Help our local businesses retain and expand their facilities and operations Help our local businesses retain and expand their facilities and operations Provide workforce training for new and existing businesses Provide workforce training for new and existing businesses Strategies for Creating New Jobs

Roads Roads Need $2 million annually Jobs Jobs Need $1 - $1.5 million annually Financial Needs

Funding Options Funding Options Explored by the Road & Bridge Advisory Board Funding Options Explored by the Road & Bridge Advisory Board –User Fees »Toll Roads »Wheel Taxes »Vehicle Registration Fees –Local Motor Fuel Tax –Property Tax Increase –Renew Local 1/2 Cent Sales Tax

The Road & Bridge Advisory Board believes that sales tax is the preferred revenue source over property tax, and leaves the funding recommendation to the County’s financial officers.

The County Commission plans to ask the voters to continue a 1/2 cent sales tax rate for roads and jobs when the sales tax sunsets for the Law Enforcement Center. The local sales tax rate will not change beyond the current level.

Reasons for Sales Tax Recommendation 35% of the real estate in Riley County is exempt from property tax 35% of the real estate in Riley County is exempt from property tax Property taxes in Riley County are paid by approximately 30,000 people Property taxes in Riley County are paid by approximately 30,000 people Sales tax is paid by 163,000+ people from the trade area - plus persons attending football games, basketball games, cultural events, and regional or state meetings and conferences Sales tax is paid by 163,000+ people from the trade area - plus persons attending football games, basketball games, cultural events, and regional or state meetings and conferences

Football Games Create Sales Tax

K-State Students Create Sales Tax

Ft. Riley Soldiers & Dependents Create Sales Tax

Conventional Sales Tax Authority Permits Riley County to levy a one cent sales tax Permits Riley County to levy a one cent sales tax One-half cent was approved by the voters in 1982 One-half cent was approved by the voters in 1982 –Used for general fund revenue

Annual Sales Tax Revenue City of Manhattan City of Manhattan 100% of city’s 1 cent $4,000, % of city’s 1 cent $4,000,000 56% of county’s 1/2 cent 1,100,000 56% of county’s 1/2 cent 1,100,000 $5,100,000 $5,100,000 Riley County Riley County 42% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 850,000 $ 850,000 42% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 850,000 $ 850,000

Annual Sales Tax Revenue Small Cities Small Cities 100% of Ogden’s 1 cent $ 80, % of Riley’s 1 cent 50,000 2% of county’s 1/2 cent 40,000 $ 170,000 Law Enforcement Center$ 2,000,000 Law Enforcement Center$ 2,000,000 $ 2,000,000

Tax Revenue Generated by a County 1/2 Cent Sales Tax City of Manhattan City of Manhattan 56% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 1,100,000 56% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 1,100,000 Riley County Riley County 42% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 850,000 42% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 850,000 Small Cities Small Cities 2%$ 40,000

Sales Tax for Roads and Jobs Collection of the sales tax will start for roads and jobs when the Law Enforcement Center is paid off in late 2003 or early 2004 Collection of the sales tax will start for roads and jobs when the Law Enforcement Center is paid off in late 2003 or early 2004

Sales Tax County Commissioners will place a renewal of the 1/2 cent sales tax on the ballot in the November 2002 general election County Commissioners will place a renewal of the 1/2 cent sales tax on the ballot in the November 2002 general election

Conclusions Riley County Commissioners have the option of utilizing two sources of funding: Riley County Commissioners have the option of utilizing two sources of funding: –Property tax paid by Riley County property owners (30,000) –Sales tax paid by people who trade in Riley County (163,000+)

Conclusions Adequate road systems must be in place to create jobs Adequate road systems must be in place to create jobs Skilled and professional jobs must be in place to finance adequate road systems Skilled and professional jobs must be in place to finance adequate road systems

The County Commissioners feel strongly that it is the right of the voters to determine the future of roads and jobs in Riley County The County Commissioners feel strongly that it is the right of the voters to determine the future of roads and jobs in Riley County Finally

Questions and Answers