Fears are growing that local governments’ portion of motor fuel tax funds being withheld during the state budget battle could impact the plowing and salting of roads this winter, especially in more rural areas of the state. (City of Chicago photo)

How quickly you move on roadways this winter may hinge on how quickly state leaders move on a state budget.

Fears are growing that local governments’ portion of motor fuel tax funds being withheld during the state budget battle could impact the plowing and salting of roads this winter, especially in more rural areas of the state. And even governments that aren’t banking on the money to cover winter weather expenses are worried that their road repairs next year could be hampered if their due funds never make it into their coffers.

“I am hearing from a lot of townships about not getting their motor fuel tax funds,” said Bryan Smith, executive director of Township Officials of Illinois, the umbrella organization for townships in the state.

Smith said with winter on the doorstep, some township officials, especially downstate, fear that without motor fuel tax funds, their snow-removal efforts could be hampered.

“Everybody’s affected,” Smith said of the withholding of MFT funds. “Money is tight these days. Townships have been good stewards, but MFT money has not come in since June or July. It definitely has an impact.”

Smith said townships are part of a local government coalition working to try to get MFT funds released. An effort to free up local governments’ portion of motor fuel tax money was thwarted in August.

“We have tried, but the governor ordered his allies in the Legislature to shut it down,” Steve Brown, press secretary for state House Speaker Michael Madigan, said of getting local MFT funds released. “That money cannot be spent elsewhere. There is no reason to block that spending.”

Madigan’s spokesman said it will take some Republicans joining Democrats in order to get that MFT money freed up. He said when the Legislature reconvenes Nov. 10 there is an opportunity for action on the motor fuel tax funds.

“It has to be bipartisan,” Brown said of getting support for local MFT money allocated. “Some of the governor’s allies have to say ‘Winter is coming. We have to clear roads.’ They are going to have to stand up to him.”

Local motor fuel tax funds come from the 19-cent state gasoline tax. Local governing bodies get a portion of that tax money. Illinois is one of only seven states to charge a gasoline tax.

With townships overseeing 53 percent of roads in the state, getting township road districts their funds could be vital for winter travel.

It is not just smaller townships facing plowing woes because of withheld MFT funds. John Yonan, superintendent for the Department of Transportation and Highways for Cook County, said Maine Township near O’Hare Airport gets millions of dollars in motor fuel tax funds and could have trouble plowing this winter due to withheld MFT money.

Maine Township Highway Commissioner Robert Provenzano was unavailable for comment as of press time.

Yonan said the county has motor fuel tax money in reserve to cover costs in the short term.

“We’re going to be OK paying some of the salaries, but it’s going to get a little tight in the second quarter (of the county’s fiscal year),” Yonan said. “Unfortunately, other locals, some of the municipalities, some of the townships, they have indicated to us they might not be doing any plowing this year. Countywide, there are some townships that really do not have any reserve funds. So, it is, unfortunately, a dire situation.”

Many government bodies use the MFT funds for road improvements. Some smaller townships, with limited tax bases, bank on that money to pay personnel costs, including overtime for plow drivers.

Paul Whittington, road commissioner of Fondulac Township in Tazewell County, said some smaller townships in the southern part of the county, use motor fuel tax funds to help pay the wages of snow-removal personnel.

“For them, there could be serious problems,” if MFT funds stay frozen, Whittington said. “They will need to dip into their reserves.”

Whittington said his township will be able to weather a prolonged MFT drought.

“Right now, it is not going to have any effect in Fondulac,” Whittington said. “We planned for it from the start. We are going ahead with our plans. I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Fondulac gets about $1,100 per month in motor fuel tax funds, money that it normally uses for summer road repairs. With that monthly $1,100 allotment sitting in the state’s general fund, Whittington worries that money could be gone with one swipe of the pen.

“My biggest fear is all that money is in one account and, in one clean sweep, that could be gone,” Whittington said. “That would really hurt us next summer.”

Madigan’s spokesman said he doesn’t envision that happening.

“We agreed to some sweeps. We acknowledged there was some overspending, hoping that by making some corrections it would help with the budget,” Steve Brown said. “I doubt (sweeping local MFT funds) would go forward.

“But that is part of the equation that needs to go forward.”

John Valle, superintendent of York Township in DuPage County, said his township does not count on MFT funds for its budget so it would not hamper their snow-removal efforts if the funds stay frozen.

“It has a possible impact on everybody,” Valle said. “When you are not getting your money, you have to look at reserves.”

Dick Schroeder, York Township highway commissioner, said he lets MFT funds build up year after year and then uses the funds for major road improvements.

“We do not buy salt with the money the way some townships do,” Schroeder said. “I let it build up and we will get up to $300,000 over 10 years and then spend it on roads.”

Greg Menold, highway commissioner in Morton Township in Tazewell County, said the backlogged MFT funds will not affect his operations much this winter.

“The percentage of my revenue from MFT funds is really small,” Menold said. “I got all my salt purchased for the year. It will have more of an effect on more rural townships with not a lot of property-tax revenue.”

— State budget impasse could bury snow-plowing efforts —