By: Brian Dicken, Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce
Shortly after taking office, Governor DeWine introduced his first transportation budget. Included in the proposal was an increase in the motor fuel user fee, the first such increase in nearly two decades. Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly should be commended for recognizing the need for additional revenue to provide for new construction and make safety improvements to our roads and bridges. The Chamber worked with a broad based statewide coalition to bring awareness to the funding situation and to call for action to be taken to address the problem.
Currently Ohio assesses a 28 cent per gallon user fee on gasoline and diesel fuel. Beginning July 1, the user fee on unleaded gasoline will increase by 10.5 cents per gallon and diesel fuel will increase by 19 cents per gallon. Also included in the legislation is a registration fee for electric and hybrid vehicles starting January 2020.
So what does this increase mean to our region? Cities, villages, and townships will see increased funding. Collectively, these communities in Fulton County are expected to receive an additional $1.2 million and in Wood County, an additional $2.9 million in the first year of the increase. Lucas County communities are estimated to receive an additional $7.7 million with the City of Toledo receiving approximately $5 million in the first year. A complete list of the estimated funding to be received by communities is available here.
While not everyone may agree with every aspect of the new transportation budget, it does represent a significant step forward and makes an investment in our quality of life and economic development efforts.
So what does this increase mean to our region? Cities, villages, and townships will see increased funding. Collectively, these communities in Fulton County are expected to receive an additional $1.2 million and in Wood County, an additional $2.9 million in the first year of the increase. Lucas County communities are estimated to receive an additional $7.7 million with the City of Toledo receiving approximately $5 million in the first year. A complete list of the estimated funding to be received by communities is available here.
While not everyone may agree with every aspect of the new transportation budget, it does represent a significant step forward and makes an investment in our quality of life and economic development efforts.
 | Brian Dicken As the Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Brian oversees the Chamber’s advocacy and public policy efforts with local, state and Federal governments. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has held positions in state government in the offices of the Ohio Lt. Governor, Ohio Auditor of State and Ohio Treasurer of State. He also worked for the late U.S. Representative Paul Gillmor and in the Office of the Vice President of the United States. |
RSS Feed
