Committee hears sharp rise in towns' culvert and bridge aid requests; county attorney guidance may require levying if towns petition

Highway staff told the Public Works Committee that requests from towns for culvert and bridge aid have jumped and that county attorneys have advised a statutory requirement may obligate the county to levy funds if towns submit formal petitions.

Scott summarized outreach to towns and said the county previously set aside about $100,000 per year for culvert and bridge aid during recent budget cycles. Staff collected requests from towns for the next two-year cycle that total approximately $225,000 in current requests; Scott said that number could grow as additional needs emerge. He said two petitions are already in hand (Town of Barton and Town of Addison).

Scott said a county attorney interpretation of state statute indicates that if a town submits a petition the county "shall" levy the tax to provide the aid. That interpretation, he said, reduces the county’s flexibility to hold the annual levied amount at $100,000: if petitions are filed, the county would be required to levy the requested amount per statute. Committee members discussed particular high-cost items on the request list, such as a longer collector bridge on Lighthouse Lane in the Town of Barton that is more costly because it spans the Milwaukee River and requires roadway realignment; that project does not qualify for the same 100% federal funding other smaller local bridges have received.

Supervisors representing towns emphasized the program’s importance because towns cannot levy for these specific repairs directly; the county collects and distributes the tax for towns. Committee members were asked to consider priorities for the upcoming budget cycle, given rising requests and limited county funds.