Road & Bridge Fund: 33% Increase

Road & Bridge Fund: Spending on roads and our infrastructure has increased dramatically in the last four years and this is a good thing for our community. The Road and Bridge funds have seen a 33.20% increase in spending since 2006. Initially I'm sure this seems contrary to my position of fiscal discipline. But as I mentioned in prior discussions, we have returned the focus of the Road Department to our infrastructure in order to maintain quality roads and drainage systems. For example, in 2003 and 2004 the Township only repaved 1 mile of road. We need to resurface 6-7 miles a year in order to stay on a 20 year maintenance schedule (the typical life-span of residential roads). We have resurfaced over 30 miles of road since 2006.

So although our spending in the Road department has increased 33%, our service delivery to township residents and businesses has considerably expanded and improved. No longer is the road department simply picking up leaves and plowing roads; they are focusing on the very infrastructure that upholds our quality community. Fiscal restraint isn't just about spending less money; it is prioritizing the money we do spend so that we are spending it wisely and with focused priorities.