Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has sent a resolution to the Board of Commissioners requesting a one-time appropriation of $2 million to assist the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) with the urgent need to replace aging equipment. The RCOC needs to replace 12 Tandem Dump Trucks with accessories and three John Deere Motor Graders at a cost of $3.8 million.
“Voters sent a clear message to Lansing with the defeat of Proposal 1—find a real solution to fix our roads. Meanwhile, Oakland County drivers suffer from road conditions worsened by decades of underfunding by the state,” Patterson said.
“That includes the Road Commission for Oakland County which faces the unenviable choice of whether to replace aging equipment or to fill our potholes. It’s a decision so urgent that it can’t wait for Lansing to act. That is why Oakland County is making this one-time appropriation to help with the purchase of much-needed road equipment,” Patterson added.
Even though Oakland County taxpayers are already net donors to the state transportation fund—receiving only 75 cents back on every dollar they send to the state—Patterson, in partnership with the Board of Commissioners, is recommending the county make this one-time appropriation which would amend the fiscal year 2015 budget.
“It is evident that road conditions in some areas cannot wait for Lansing to adopt a new road funding solution. This essential equipment can be used throughout the county to the benefit of every community and will allow the Road Commission to use its scarce revenues to make emergency road repairs,” Patterson said.
During the Great Recession, the RCOC had to reduce its investment in equipment essential to perform road maintenance and preservation activities due to a decline in state and federal road funding from 2007-2012. The RCOC’s Financial Plan for Fiscal Years 2015-2017 indicates that both state and federal road funding sources remain inadequate to meet its needs.
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