Madison, News, RSS Twitter
 By  GreggParker Published 
12:35 pm Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Public meeting set for proposed gasoline tax increase

Madison residents can comment about a proposed gasoline tax increase at a public involvement meeting on April 4. Councilman Mike Potter has written an explanatory white paper. CONTRIBUTED

Madison residents can comment about a proposed gasoline tax increase at a public involvement meeting on April 4. Councilman Mike Potter has written an explanatory white paper. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – Residents can voice their opinions about a proposed gasoline tax at a public involvement meeting on April 4.

The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 Hughes Road.

District 4 Councilman Mike Potter has written “3-Cent Gas Tax White Paper” that “discusses the rationale for such a proposal.” Potter’s document is available on the city’s website (www.madisonal.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9365).

“Bottom line up front: Madison should consider raising its current local gasoline tax from 2 cents to 5 cents to fund a dedicated collector road maintenance program,” Potter stated in his white paper.

Potter defines “collector roads” as the “city’s internal arteries that flow traffic to and from neighborhoods and shopping, recreation and work destinations.” Examples are Palmer, Hughes, Gillespie, Browns Ferry, Hardiman, Burgreen and Segers roads and Madison Boulevard.

The city maintains 210 miles of neighborhood streets and 74 miles of collector roadways. Until 2013, Madison did not have a “resourced repaving program for our infrastructure,” Potter said. “In 2013, City Council began to turn this around for neighborhoods by allocating 25 percent of the sales.”

However, the city still does not have “a dedicated revenue stream that focuses on our collector roadways,” Potter said.

Madison “needs to get to the point where Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is used for capital projects; federal and state highway funds are used for major projects; and the city funds routine collector road upkeep, just as we are doing with neighborhood roads,” Potter said.

“The need is obvious, but the question of ‘how’ is not,” he said.

Potter cited three “funding mechanisms” for roads: borrowed money from bonds and loans; federal or state dollars; and city revenue.

With bonds, council can commit substantial funds “on a project up front and pay it back over time. The negative is that it typically takes 20 years to pay a bond off and the total outlay is significantly more than the amount

borrowed,” Potter said.

With federal or state money, ALDOT (Alabama Department of Transportation) oversees the project. “ALDOT’s supervision typically adds 25 to 35 percent to the cost of a project … it also adds time,” Potter said.

City funds are the most cost-effective source to fun projects for collector roads, Potter said. Engineering standards are identical “but time and cost is significantly less because everything is controlled in-house.”

Currently, the City of Madison receives 2 cents from the 18 cents in tax on a gallon of gasoline. The state receives 16 cents/gallon.

Also on The Madison Record
Tri-agency traffic enforcement targets speeders on I-565
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By STAFF REPORTS 
July 16, 2025
MADISON  – In a united front to crack down on excessive speeding, the Huntsville Police Department (HPD), Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and t...
Local athletes set for North-South battles
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Bob Labbe 
July 16, 2025
MADISON - Some of the top rising senior high school athletes are about to invade the Alabama Capitol City of Montgomery July 21-25 for the 29th annual...
NASA, Orion to host Marshall’s 65th anniversary celebration this Saturday
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Staff Reports 
July 16, 2025
HUNTSVILLE - NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is inviting the community to help celebrate the center’s 65th anniversary during a free public event ...
Chamber needs nominations for ‘Military Family of the Year’
A: Main, Business, Events, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Madison Chamber of Commerce is encouraging residents to identify a family who has upheld a strong commitment to country and community. The c...
ADOC: Health care worker tried to smuggle meth, narcotics into correctional facility
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
July 16, 2025
LIMESTONE COUNTY - A health care employee was arrested Friday for allegedly attempting to transport almost 200 grams of methamphetamine and other narc...
Central Office values Becky Tucker as ‘Staff Member of the Year’
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Becky Turner doesn’t get hung up on labels. No matter her job title, Tucker feels called to be a servant leader. Her colleagues at Central O...
Brett Burgess named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at James Clemens
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – Brett Burgess wanted to work in Madison City Schools for association with the best in his field, both academic and coaching. James Clemens H...
Olivia Skillern named James Clemens theatre department’s artistic director
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
July 16, 2025
MADISON – For Olivia Skillern, it’s ‘as if I never said goodbye’ (to quote a line from “Sunset Boulevard”). With her new job in the Theatre Department...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our Latest E-edition
Latest Stories
YUM! Spicy yet savory poppers
MADISON - Your guests won’t be able to have just one of these sweet and savory poppers. With a touch of heat from the cayenne pepper, and sweetness fr...
July 16, 2025
poll