Roads & JobsRoads & JobsFor For

Riley County Riley County

The county’s roads and bridges are The county’s roads and bridges are deteriorating and there are extremely deteriorating and there are extremely limited funds available for replacementlimited funds available for replacement

People are leaving Riley County to find People are leaving Riley County to find better paying jobs in urban centersbetter paying jobs in urban centers

Why are we here?Why are we here?

Citizens Committee FormedCitizens Committee Formed

To study & prioritize To study & prioritize road & bridge needs in road & bridge needs in Riley CountyRiley County

Explore potential Explore potential funding sources for funding sources for recommendation to the recommendation to the County CommissionCounty Commission

Citizens Committee AppointeesCitizens Committee Appointees

Representatives were appointed from:Representatives were appointed from:– Cities in Riley CountyCities in Riley County– Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce– School DistrictsSchool Districts– State & local elected officialsState & local elected officials– Kansas Department of TransportationKansas Department of Transportation– Urban Area Planning BoardUrban Area Planning Board– Riley County Planning BoardRiley County Planning Board

Appointees Appointees (continued)(continued)

– Township Officers AssociationTownship Officers Association– Kansas State UniversityKansas State University– Riley County Farm BureauRiley County Farm Bureau– Kansas Contractors AssociationKansas Contractors Association– Riley County Livestock AssociationRiley County Livestock Association– Riley County Extension CouncilRiley County Extension Council– Ecological groupsEcological groups– County Fire DistrictCounty Fire District

Appointed by the County CommissionAppointed by the County Commission

Tom Bennett Tom Bennett Monty PrescottMonty Prescott

Kent ManuelKent Manuel Jerry PettyJerry Petty

Burke BayerBurke Bayer Neil HortonNeil Horton

Sig MeierSig Meier Buck GehrtBuck Gehrt

Mike ShillingMike Shilling Dick HayterDick Hayter

Richard JahnkeRichard Jahnke

Bob ChalenderBob Chalender

Road and Bridge Advisory BoardRoad and Bridge Advisory Board

RoadsRoads– Develop and sustain a road system which Develop and sustain a road system which

will enhance the economic, social and will enhance the economic, social and educational growth of Riley Countyeducational growth of Riley County

First GoalFirst Goal

Road & Bridge Inventory Road & Bridge Inventory

Riley County hasRiley County has

– 224 miles of roads224 miles of roads– 128 bridges128 bridges– 370 large culverts370 large culverts– 3500 small culverts3500 small culverts

County Roads

Total Miles 224 mi.

Road Locatons ROAD LEGEND

Riley County Public WorksOct. 2001

Infrastructure Safety IssuesInfrastructure Safety Issues Fatalities are five times more likely to occur on substandard Fatalities are five times more likely to occur on substandard

county roads than on modern highwayscounty roads than on modern highways

Most county roads need to be reconstructed to minimum Most county roads need to be reconstructed to minimum modern safety design standardsmodern safety design standards

Approximately half of all county bridges and culverts are Approximately half of all county bridges and culverts are unsafe and need to be replacedunsafe and need to be replaced

Safety DeficienciesSafety Deficiencies Lane width too narrowLane width too narrow Poor visibilityPoor visibility Inadequate shouldersInadequate shoulders Obstacles in and near Obstacles in and near

the roadwaythe roadway

– Bridge abutmentsBridge abutments

– TreesTrees Sharp curvesSharp curves Steep side slopesSteep side slopes

Efforts Taken to Reduce Efforts Taken to Reduce Maintenance CostsMaintenance Costs

Some county roads were turned over to townshipsSome county roads were turned over to townships Asphalt roads were converted to lower cost Asphalt roads were converted to lower cost

gravel surfacesgravel surfaces Roads are closed because some bridges and Roads are closed because some bridges and

culverts have been closedculverts have been closed

Project SelectionProject Selection Selection Criteria Used to Prioritize Selection Criteria Used to Prioritize

ProjectsProjects– Condition, safety, cost, traffic count, and land Condition, safety, cost, traffic count, and land

uses such as industrial, retail or agricultural uses such as industrial, retail or agricultural

Project SelectionProject Selection

21 Projects Totaling 21 Projects Totaling $16 Million Were $16 Million Were PrioritizedPrioritized

– Distribution was Distribution was county-widecounty-wide

– $10 million of the $10 million of the proposed projects inproposed projects inManhattan urban areaManhattan urban area

– $ 6 million of the $ 6 million of the proposed projects are proposed projects are in rural Riley Countyin rural Riley County

Road Reconstruction Road Reconstruction $1 million needed annually $1 million needed annually

Road & Bridge NeedsRoad & Bridge Needs

Road Repaving Road Repaving $460,000 needed annually $460,000 needed annually

Road & Bridge NeedsRoad & Bridge Needs

Bridge ReplacementBridge Replacement$340,000 needed annually$340,000 needed annually

Road & Bridge NeedsRoad & Bridge Needs

Culvert Replacement Culvert Replacement $200,000 needed annually$200,000 needed annually

Road & Bridge NeedsRoad & Bridge Needs

Results of Deferred ReplacementResults of Deferred Replacement

Increased accident ratesIncreased accident rates Closed roads and bridgesClosed roads and bridges Increased vehicle maintenance costsIncreased vehicle maintenance costs Reduced speed limitsReduced speed limits Lower weight limits on bridgesLower weight limits on bridges Maintenance costs will increaseMaintenance costs will increase Replacement costs will escalateReplacement costs will escalate

JobsJobs– Develop skilled and professional jobs to Develop skilled and professional jobs to

retain families in Riley Countyretain families in Riley County

Second GoalSecond Goal

Loss of populationLoss of population Loss of school enrollmentLoss of school enrollment Young talent leaving for jobs in urban Young talent leaving for jobs in urban

centerscenters Unknown future of Ft. Riley (BRAC)Unknown future of Ft. Riley (BRAC)

Why Do We Need Jobs Why Do We Need Jobs in Riley County?in Riley County?

Purchase land and help construct sewer Purchase land and help construct sewer systems, water systems, and roads for systems, water systems, and roads for new retail, commercial, and industrial new retail, commercial, and industrial business enterprise areasbusiness enterprise areas

Help our local businesses retain and Help our local businesses retain and expand their facilities and operationsexpand their facilities and operations

Provide workforce training for new and Provide workforce training for new and existing businessesexisting businesses

Strategies for Creating New JobsStrategies for Creating New Jobs

RoadsRoadsNeed $2 million annuallyNeed $2 million annually

JobsJobsNeed $1 - $1.5 million annuallyNeed $1 - $1.5 million annually

Financial NeedsFinancial Needs

Funding OptionsFunding Options Funding Options Explored by the Road & Bridge Advisory BoardFunding Options Explored by the Road & Bridge Advisory Board

– User FeesUser Fees» Toll RoadsToll Roads» Wheel TaxesWheel Taxes» Vehicle Registration FeesVehicle Registration Fees

– Local Motor Fuel Tax Local Motor Fuel Tax

– Property Tax IncreaseProperty Tax Increase

– Renew Local 1/2 Cent Sales TaxRenew Local 1/2 Cent Sales Tax

The Road & Bridge Advisory Board The Road & Bridge Advisory Board believes that sales tax is the believes that sales tax is the

preferred revenue source over preferred revenue source over property tax, and leaves the funding property tax, and leaves the funding

recommendation to the County’s recommendation to the County’s financial officers.financial officers.

The County Commission plans to The County Commission plans to ask the voters to continue a 1/2 cent ask the voters to continue a 1/2 cent

sales tax rate for roads and jobs sales tax rate for roads and jobs when the sales tax sunsets for the when the sales tax sunsets for the

Law Enforcement Center.Law Enforcement Center.

The local sales tax rate will not The local sales tax rate will not change beyond the current level.change beyond the current level.

Reasons for Sales Tax Reasons for Sales Tax RecommendationRecommendation

35% of the real estate in Riley County is 35% of the real estate in Riley County is exempt from property tax exempt from property tax

Property taxes in Riley County are paid by Property taxes in Riley County are paid by approximately 30,000 peopleapproximately 30,000 people

Sales tax is paid by 163,000+ people from Sales tax is paid by 163,000+ people from the trade area - plus persons attending the trade area - plus persons attending football games, basketball games, cultural football games, basketball games, cultural events, and regional or state meetings and events, and regional or state meetings and conferencesconferences

Football Games Create Football Games Create Sales TaxSales Tax

K-State Students CreateK-State Students CreateSales TaxSales Tax

Ft. Riley Soldiers & Dependents Ft. Riley Soldiers & Dependents Create Sales TaxCreate Sales Tax

Conventional Sales Tax AuthorityConventional Sales Tax Authority

Permits Riley County Permits Riley County to levy a one cent sales to levy a one cent sales taxtax

One-half cent was One-half cent was approved by the voters approved by the voters in 1982in 1982– Used for general fund Used for general fund

revenuerevenue

Annual Sales Tax RevenueAnnual Sales Tax Revenue City of ManhattanCity of Manhattan

100% of city’s 1 cent100% of city’s 1 cent $4,000,000$4,000,000 56% of county’s 1/2 cent56% of county’s 1/2 cent 1,100,0001,100,000

$5,100,000$5,100,000 Riley CountyRiley County

42% of county’s 1/2 cent42% of county’s 1/2 cent $$ 850,000 850,000$ $

850,000850,000

Annual Sales Tax RevenueAnnual Sales Tax Revenue Small CitiesSmall Cities

100% of Ogden’s 1 cent100% of Ogden’s 1 cent $ 80,000$ 80,000

100% of Riley’s 1 cent100% of Riley’s 1 cent 50,000 50,000

2% of county’s 1/2 cent 2% of county’s 1/2 cent 40,000 40,000

$ 170,000$ 170,000

Law Enforcement CenterLaw Enforcement Center $$ 2,000,000 2,000,000

$ 2,000,000$ 2,000,000

Tax Revenue Generated by a Tax Revenue Generated by a County 1/2 Cent Sales TaxCounty 1/2 Cent Sales Tax

City of ManhattanCity of Manhattan 56% of county’s 1/2 cent56% of county’s 1/2 cent $$ 1,100,0001,100,000

Riley CountyRiley County 42% of county’s 1/2 cent42% of county’s 1/2 cent $ 850,000$ 850,000

Small CitiesSmall Cities

2%2% $ 40,000$ 40,000

Sales Tax for Roads and Jobs Sales Tax for Roads and Jobs

Collection of the sales tax will start for Collection of the sales tax will start for roads and jobs when the Law Enforcement roads and jobs when the Law Enforcement Center is paid off in late 2003 or early 2004Center is paid off in late 2003 or early 2004

Sales TaxSales Tax

County Commissioners will place a renewal County Commissioners will place a renewal of the 1/2 cent sales tax on the ballot in the of the 1/2 cent sales tax on the ballot in the November 2002 general electionNovember 2002 general election

ConclusionsConclusions Riley County Commissioners have the Riley County Commissioners have the

option of utilizing two sources of funding:option of utilizing two sources of funding:

– Property tax paid by Riley County property Property tax paid by Riley County property owners (30,000)owners (30,000)

– Sales tax paid by people who trade in Riley Sales tax paid by people who trade in Riley County (163,000+) County (163,000+)

ConclusionsConclusions

Adequate road systems must be in place to Adequate road systems must be in place to create jobscreate jobs

Skilled and professional jobs must be in Skilled and professional jobs must be in place to finance adequate road systemsplace to finance adequate road systems

The County Commissioners feel strongly The County Commissioners feel strongly that it is the right of the voters to determine that it is the right of the voters to determine the future of roads and jobs in Riley Countythe future of roads and jobs in Riley County

FinallyFinally

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers