Liberty Twp. residents will pay extra tax to help fund infrastructure improvements

LIBERTY TWP. – Roads will get an extra boost in funding beginning in 2023.

That’s when Liberty Township residents will begin paying an extra $5 permissive tax when they renew their vehicle registration. A 2019 law allows boards of trustees to impose the fee by adopting a resolution, which is sent to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Finance director Michelle Greis estimated the extra $5 would bring in an additional $234,000 annually, based on state data from 2020 and 2021.

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The additional dollars will give the township an extra year before the road funds are depleted.

“This gives us an extra year or so before we go into the red,’’ said Trustee Tom Farrell.

“It will give us more time to look at other ways to supplement roads funds. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that money can come from other sources and be put to roads.”

'We’ve got to do something'

Township road and bridge repairs, improvements, materials, and staffing come from four revenue sources, Greis said. That amount is expected to slowly increase from $2.2 million next year to $2.3 million by 2027, without the additional $5 tax.

During that same period expenses are projected to increase from $2.623 million to $2.635 million, with a $49,012 shortfall in 2024 that increases to $1.5 million in 2027.

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“We’ve got to do something,” said Trustee Christine Matacic. “(If) you let roads deteriorate it costs you 2-10 times more to get them up to speed than if you had kept up with the maintenance.”

With the added revenue from the $5 tax, a lower deficit pushed back a year is projected, Greis said. A $19,633 deficit is projected for 2025 and would increase to $459,936 by 2027.

'We’ve postponed this for about two years and we’re facing the music'

“We’ve postponed this for about two years and we’re facing the music,’’ said Trustee Steve Schramm.

Calling the tax a user fee, Schramm explained that l it the most transparent way to increase revenue for roads.

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“I feel like it’s time,’’ he said.

Matacic said the tax would be paid by users and would be less expensive than a levy.