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Union County debates short timeline to adopt local option fuel tax; board opts for public outreach and town halls
Summary
Commissioners discussed a proposed local option fuel (gas) tax (not yet adopted) that would add up to 5¢ per gallon for capital improvements; members raised concerns about the 15‑day advertising timeline, and the board agreed to hold rotating town halls to inform residents before taking final action.
Union County commissioners spent a substantial portion of their Sept. 15 meeting discussing whether to pursue a local option fuel (gas) tax and how quickly to move forward. Staff described a local option charge (discussed in the meeting as an additional 5¢ per gallon if fully implemented) that, by statute, must be advertised and approved by Sept. 30 to take effect Jan. 1, 2026 — a tight timetable that several commissioners said did not allow adequate public outreach.
The presenter told the board the tax would be restricted to capital expenditures — paving, milling and resurfacing, ditch and drainage improvements, guardrails and related capital projects — not routine maintenance. Estimates provided in the record claimed a one‑cent increase could generate roughly $4,000 a year in the county; at the full 5¢ that translated in the meeting’s discussion to an estimated $200,000 annually, which staff said would cover a fraction of the cost to mill and resurface one mile (estimated in the record at about $500,000).
Several commissioners said they supported the principle of adding capital revenue but objected to the 15‑day public notice period and urged more public engagement (newspaper notices, social media and town halls). Others said the board could advertise now and continue outreach. The board agreed to pursue public engagement through a rotating series of town‑hall meetings across the county and scheduled the first session for Nov. 3 at Rayford Community Center (06:00), with additional community meetings planned for Dec. 1, Jan. 5 (Worthington), Feb. 2 (Providence) and March (location to be determined).
No final vote to adopt the fuel tax occurred at the Sept. 15 meeting. Commissioners asked staff to prepare advertising language if the board decides to proceed and to return required materials if the board chooses to act on the statutory timetable. Staff also noted that if the board does not meet the Sept. 30 deadline the earliest possible effective date would be Jan. 1, 2027.
