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Marion County approves up to $190 million bond to speed key road projects
Summary
The Marion County Board unanimously authorized a financing team to issue infrastructure sales‑surtax improvement revenue bonds up to $190 million to accelerate shovel‑ready road projects including corridor widenings and a new interchange connection.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a financing team to issue infrastructure sales‑surtax improvement revenue bonds not to exceed $190,000,000 to accelerate multiple road improvement projects.
County engineer Stephen Cooney told the board the bond proceeds would push a set of shovel‑ready projects into construction sooner. “We are now to a point where we can get multiple projects out the door,” Cooney said, singling out the planned widening of the 38th–40th Street corridor near the high school, the new Buc‑ee’s interchange and associated connector to 225A, and the Marion Oaks Manor flyover extension as among the largest projects the bond would fund.
Clerk staff corrected the agenda language before the vote to clarify the instrument is an infrastructure sales‑surtax improvement revenue bond rather than a public‑improvement revenue bond. Commissioner Stone moved approval with the corrected financing designation; the motion passed unanimously.
Board members pressed staff on timing and construction impacts: Cooney said utility relocations are underway in several corridors and estimated some openings within months, while other projects — notably a DOT bridge replacement on SR‑66 over Route‑75 — could require a 10‑ to 12‑month construction window. Cooney said the county will coordinate timing with the city on signal optimization and noted routine requirements such as back‑of‑curb utility connections could delay short‑term traffic openings.
The board asked staff to keep the public informed as projects move toward construction; staff said outreach and periodic updates would be posted on the county website and through public relations channels.
Next steps: the board’s action establishes the financing team and corrects the bond language; actual bond issuance and project‑by‑project timelines will follow required legal and market steps and additional public notices.
