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Revenue from the existing fee, increased in phases since 1968, is shared with other local governments.
“We’re really falling behind,” County Engineer Neil Tunison said. “We’re doing about a third of the roads we need to do.”
Warren County would be the 14th in Ohio to add the charge, joining Montgomery, Hamilton and Clermont counties in the Miami Valley. The new fee was authorized by Ohio lawmakers in 2017, Tunison said.
Tunison said some of the new money would fund local matches on major projects funded primarily with state or federal funds.
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County Commissioner Dave Young noted this was the first increase in 13 years and said good roads were part of keeping Warren County an attractive place for businesses and residents.
“I’m not even going to blink an eye,” Young said.
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There were no comments from the public in two public hearings preceding Tuesday’s unanimous vote by the commissioners.
Commissioner Tom Grossmann said he was not planning to vote for the increase.
“You convinced me,” Grossmann said.
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The county engineer’s office’s annual budget is about $8.4 million in revenue, $6.1 million from the vehicle registration fees and $2.3 million from gas tax.
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