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38th Annual
Darke County Engineer’s Report for 2015
By: James P. Surber P.E., P.S.
Darke County Engineer
This report always shows all money received for the year, where it was
spent, and what was maintained, constructed, purchased, and improved.
2015 began with harsh winter conditions, continued with a wet summer,
but ended with an excellent late summer, fall and early winter.
The most noteworthy events of the year were a modest increase in Ohio
fuel tax receipts and greatly reduced fuel costs. But revenue always
seems to move in mysterious ways. While fuel tax revenue increased by
$181,870, motor license decreased by $102,159, and we spent nearly
$188,000 less than in 2014 purchasing fuel for County departments.
Depressed scrap metal prices and an extremely mild beginning of winter
impacted usual receipts for recycling and salt sales. The effect of all
these factors was a total net revenue increase of $91,695, or 1.7%.
By reducing expenditures $169,556 from 2014, we were able to finish in
the black by $38,251 which is about three-quarters of one per cent of
the total budget.
Our twenty-six personnel do a great job keeping up with our road and
bridge responsibilities, in spite of trimming resources to further
stretch revenues. We now use only five mowing tractors to cover 1042
lane-miles. Our two bridge crews built two new bridges and
rehabilitated and repaired ten others. The crack-seal crew operates
every day that weather permits, and we have increased strip-seal and
patching operations in response to aging pavements which directly
relate to insufficient revenue for total asphalt resurfacing. We are
gearing up to do more patching and full chip seal with our own
personnel in the coming years.
The challenges we face of obligations versus revenue are shared by
Township Trustees, villages and cities.
Readers may contact us with any questions or comments. Phone:
937-547-7375 or email: dce@earthlink.net
Read the complete report here
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