The County Beat: Raiding sales tax funds isn't sustainable

More than four years ago, then county highway engineer Mike Tardy sold a half-percent sales tax levy to upgrade county roads (those identified by a number above 100). He said that extra revenue was needed for major repairs, sometimes a complete overhaul, of these roadways that had little chance of being fixed otherwise.

Since the sales tax passed, the record of county road work has been amazing and has widespread support. I have heard the comment often: “We can see the results of the tax we are paying.”

These projects come from a dedicated list and the work is not expected to be completed until 2024. Then there will come another list of needs, many of them county gravel roads that should be added to a new list. With the struggles of the Big Mud of the spring of 2019 still clear in our minds, we advise against raiding the sales-tax dollars for the Barnum garage rebuild.

With the sales tax raising an average of $1.8 million a year, commissioners would have to divert a third of the money to cover a bond payment of $600,000 a year.

In reality, by the time a lot of the needed yearly road rebuilds/repairs are completed throughout the county, additional work will be needed again on those same county roads. Hard Minnesota winters and demands for a better transportation network do not go away. The existing revenue stream from the half-percent sales tax will not cover all the needed repairs, but taking a third of the money to fund a Barnum garage will make a third of the work impossible to do. Which road do you want to drop off a future list?

Any level of government struggles with adequate funding. Yet, taking funding from a successful program is not the answer. An upgraded garage in Barnum was not mentioned when the sales tax was sold to the public.

A wheelage tax has been suggested. Regardless of the merits, at least a tax of this kind will be dedicated for a specific use right from the start. If approved for the Barnum garage, this tax would sunset after those bonds were paid off if the county board chose to do so. The proposal would not take funds away from a successful construction program long needed.

A hearing will be held at 9 a.m. July 9 during the regular Carlton County board meeting at the Transportation Building. Voice your opinion — a successful road improvement program should not be curtailed.

Writer Dan Reed resides in Automba, and drives many miles of county roads to cover the Carlton County Board of Commissioners for the Pine Knot News and the Moose Lake Star Gazette.