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38th Annual Darke County Engineer’s Report for 2015
By: James P. Surber P.E., P.S.
Darke County Engineer

This report always shows all money received for the year, where it was spent, and what was maintained, constructed, purchased, and improved.

2015 began with harsh winter conditions, continued with a wet summer, but ended with an excellent late summer, fall and early winter. 

The most noteworthy events of the year were a modest increase in Ohio fuel tax receipts and greatly reduced fuel costs. But revenue always seems to move in mysterious ways. While fuel tax revenue increased by $181,870, motor license decreased by $102,159, and we spent nearly $188,000 less than in 2014 purchasing fuel for County departments. Depressed scrap metal prices and an extremely mild beginning of winter impacted usual receipts for recycling and salt sales. The effect of all these factors was a total net revenue increase of $91,695, or 1.7%.

By reducing expenditures $169,556 from 2014, we were able to finish in the black by $38,251 which is about three-quarters of one per cent of the total budget.

Our twenty-six personnel do a great job keeping up with our road and bridge responsibilities, in spite of trimming resources to further stretch revenues. We now use only five mowing tractors to cover 1042 lane-miles. Our two bridge crews built two new bridges and rehabilitated and repaired ten others. The crack-seal crew operates every day that weather permits, and we have increased strip-seal and patching operations in response to aging pavements which directly relate to insufficient revenue for total asphalt resurfacing. We are gearing up to do more patching and full chip seal with our own personnel in the coming years.

The challenges we face of obligations versus revenue are shared by Township Trustees, villages and cities.

Readers may contact us with any questions or comments. Phone: 937-547-7375 or email: dce@earthlink.net

Read the complete report here



 
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