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City engineer outlines road-and-bridge levy results, projects and 2025 plan
Summary
City Engineer Matt Watson told the council the voter-approved road-and-bridge levy continues to expand work on city streets and bridges, reporting 2024 revenues, recent projects and a 2025 paving plan that covers 27 streets and several major reconstruction projects tied to federal grants.
City Engineer Matt Watson presented the annual update on the city’s road-and-bridge levy at the April 21 Tiffin City Council meeting, reporting revenue and expense figures for 2024 and outlining the 2025 construction program.
The nut of the update: The levy — a 0.25 percent restricted income tax voters first approved in May 2018 and renewed in May 2022 — is restricted to construction-related expenses for roads, bridges and culverts. Watson said the levy produced just over $1.6 million in revenue in 2024, while expenses totaled $1,884,287.95.
Watson told council the levy has allowed the city to leverage approximately $7.7 million in state and federal grants since 2018, producing roughly $8.4 million in additional road-and-bridge investment; he summarized that the city receives “almost $2 worth of road and bridge infrastructure improvements for every additional $1 of local investment.”
On the work program: Watson described 2024 paving across 24 streets and reported the 2025 budget includes $1.5 million toward street construction, engineering for federally funded projects and a $100,000 transfer for a 0 percent Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) loan payment. He said 27 streets were included in the 2025 paving program, plus US-224 urban paving and Court Street streetscape resurfacing — totalling 29 streets and noting eight were already complete at the time of his report.
Watson provided status on larger projects: the South Sandusky Street culvert will be bid in fall 2025 with construction in spring 2026; the North Sandusky Street reconstruction has roughly $212,534.69 in 2024 expenses and is supported by three federal grants for an estimated $2.7 million project slated for construction next year. Watson also said the city had made the final payment on the Ellis Street River Bridge and secured $2.5 million in federal and state funding for that project, resulting in no long-term debt for the city on the bridge work.
On levy finances and planning: Watson said the 2024 carryover into 2025 was $566,027.45 and, if revenues in 2025 match 2024, the projected carryover into 2026 would be roughly $452,000. He also outlined a strategy of using asset-management planning to move the city away from a 40-year paving cycle (when the city previously had only $300–$400K a year for streets) to a 15–20 year cycle appropriate for asphalt lifespan.
Council members asked about program details and coordination with utilities and consultants; Watson noted ongoing coordination for projects where underground work (water, sewer, utilities) may affect surface paving timing. Councilmember questions and staff answers were recorded during the presentation.
Watson concluded the update by saying the levy has allowed the city to undertake more pavement and bridge work than was previously possible and emphasized transparency and a plan-based approach going forward.
