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Darke County Engineer
37th Annual Engineer’s Report for 2014
By James P. Surber P.E., P.S.

Our annual report has always shown all money received, exactly where it was spent, and what was maintained, constructed, and improved. Now, it is an even greater challenge than in past years to adequately maintain Darke County’s very large road mileage and very large number of bridges.

For over eight years we have faced increasing costs with decreasing revenues. Annual fuel tax and license receipts received from the state in 2014 decreased by $108,216.29 from 2013. This revenue is $107,383 less than it was in 2006, while the costs of road paving and bridge materials have increased 30%-58% over the same period. 

Our most difficult challenge is to adequately maintain 521 miles of asphalt pavement surfaces. With no locally generated revenue and no foreseeable increase in funding from state lawmakers, we must now resort to less expensive and less desirable alternatives to total “hot mix” asphalt resurfacing. Our proposed local initiative to give County voters a choice to provide additional funding for the County, Townships, Villages and the City of Greenville, was found to be prohibited by Ohio law.

Spending in 2014 increased by $421,117.49 over 2013 ($223,000.16 over annual receipts), primarily for equipment and building repairs. This was taken from cash reserves.  Our 37-year old facility was fitted with an improved roof system, some new doors and interior upgrades. Funding these improvements did not reduce the amount spent on the roads and bridges.    

During the year, we spent 39 cents of each tax dollar for road paving and bridge improvements, 9 cents for road maintenance materials, 10 cents for overhead, 8 cents for equipment purchase and maintenance, and 34 cents for wages and fringe benefits. All expenditures are detailed later in this report.  Readers are encouraged to contact us with any questions or comments.   Phone: 937-547-7375 or email: dce@earthlink.net

Get complete details by downloading the Darke County Engineer’s Report


 
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