Public hearing set on county road funding

The Carlton County Board of Commissioners will hold a public meeting on road funding Monday: specifically to get public input on the continuation of the excise tax authorized in 2014 for county transportation projects and improvements approved in July, as well as identify the estimated costs of those projects. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Carlton County Transportation Building and all residents are encouraged to attend.

Carlton County road work is funded in five ways, with most income coming from state and federal funding through gas taxes and special Legislative local transportation dollars. Property taxes fund some of the transportation needs. In the last few years three additional avenues have been made available through Legislative action: an excise tax of $20 on any road vehicle bought from a licensed local dealer, a half-percent sales tax, and a new $15 wheelage tax on vehicles licensed in Carlton County.

The $20 excise tax began in early 2015 along with the half-percent sales tax. At that time, Carlton County Highway Engineer Mike Tardy explained that revenue from both taxes would go for upgrades to county roads numbered above 100.

Gas tax revenue was geared to work on county roads numbered below 100 that are considered for State Aid. They are called County State Aid Highways or CSAH for short.

The proposed projects for the excise tax were presented at a public meeting held July 9 and include (but are not limited to) the following list: Barnum Maintenance Facility, County Road 105, County Road 117, County Road 119, County State Aid Highway (CSAH) numbers 9, 12, 14, 20, 22, 27, 45, 51 and 52.

Together, revenues from the half-percent sales tax and the excise tax have brought in annual revenues of between $1.8 to 2 million dedicated for transportation projects.

In July, the County Board approved using $150,000 from the half-percent sales tax and an anticipated $450,000 raised by a new $15 wheelage tax — paid while licensing a Carlton County road vehicle — to fund yearly bond payments on an estimated $10 million upgrade of the Barnum transportation building.

Interim county auditor/treasurer Kathy Korteum said she hopes that the public meeting Monday will provide the public an opportunity to comment on all proposed projects to be funded through the local option sales tax, the wheelage tax and the excise tax.

In other matters during the Sept. 10 Board meeting:

• Pheasants Forever is purchasing John White Family property in Wrenshall and Silver Brook Townships using Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage funding with Carlton County approval. Tax-Forfeit Land Commissioner Greg Bernu explained that this avenue will provide a permanent County access to 800 acres of tax-forfeit land and an ATV access for the North Country Trail Association. Matching funding of 10 percent will come from the Trail Association and may use some funds from the Carlton County Timber/Resource Development funds overseen by Bernu.

• Land Commissioner Bernu received permission to charge $25 per test session for those taking the Pesticide Electronic testing. This brings the rate charged to match fees charged by surrounding counties.

• Carlton County has used the financial services of PFM for 30 years for bond planning and issuance. An interview committee heard proposals from four firms and recommended continuing with PFM.

Board chairman Dick Brenner said he was glad they interviewed four very professional firms as they gear up to issue bonds for the Barnum garage and, in the future, the jail. He added that PFM has done a good job in the past and he expects the firm to work well for the county in the future.