Eric Stromer, speaking for the COG subcommittee on third-quarter sales tax funding, said the application was revised to match the committee's scoring criteria and will include a glossary clarifying terms such as what qualifies as a traffic study. The subcommittee agreed to allow less-formal counts—like vehicle counts during school pickup—as an acceptable traffic study for scoring purposes.

Stromer said the application will ask applicants whether they would accept partial funding and, if so, what minimum percentage would make a project viable. The committee expects to distribute the application by the end of March, set a due date in June so municipalities can complete budget processes, and return scoring and recommendations to COG in August.

COG members raised concerns that a stricter scoring system increases competition and can disadvantage projects that benefit multiple jurisdictions. One council member asked COG staff to make time on next month's agenda for jurisdictions (including the county) to present proposed projects in advance so the committee can ask questions before applications arrive.

Why it matters: The new application wording and acceptance of partial awards may change which projects receive funds. Municipalities were asked to discuss likely projects internally and be prepared to present them at the next COG meeting so members can evaluate regional benefit before formal scoring.