4-1 GENERAL
Construction of the roadway projects identified in the
master plan will require funding beyond normal sources of
funds available to the local agencies. The following section
discusses the funding alternatives that were considered by
the committee.
4-2 SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS
Within the City of Mt. Pleasant and Union Township,
special assessments can be used for road construction
projects. These assessments are applied to adjacent property
owners where the costs are split with the City or Township.
This approach could be used for the extension of streets and
the assessment of curb and gutter and drainage improvements
for widening the streets. Special assessments have been used
in Union Township to a limited extent for the paving of
gravel roads.
4-3 FEDERAL AID URBAN (FAU) FUNDS
The Isabella County Road Commission and the City of Mt.
Pleasant cooperate in the acquisition and expenditure of
ISTEA Small Cities funds within the urban area.
Approximately $250,000 is available on a three year cycle
for improvement of roadways that are on the FAU system.
These funds have been used to widen and improve Pickard
Road, from Bradley to Harris Streets, and are proposed for
use in continuing the widening of Pickard Street, from
Bradley to Lincoln Roads.
4-4 ACT 51 GAS TAX REVENUES
The City of Mt. Pleasant and the Isabella County Road
Commission both receive Act 51 gas tax revenues from the
State of Michigan. The majority of these funds are utilized
in the maintenance of the existing street system. A small
percentage of these funds is available from both agencies
for the improvement and development of new roads. This is a
limited source of funds since the majority of the monies are
required for maintenance and upkeep of the existing roadway
system.
4-5 CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY ROAD FUNDS
The possibility of C.M.U. receiving Michigan
Institutional Road funds was reviewed. MIR funds are 100%
funded from MDOT to universities. These funds are
prioritized against other university road requests
throughout the state on a yearly basis. Typical project
maximum is approximately $350,000. Unfortunately, these
funds must be used for streets located on university
property. Funds from this program have been used by the
university for such projects as the construction of West
Campus Drive. It is unlikely, however, that MIR funds could
be used for any of the projects identified in the master
plan.
4-6 COUNTY-WIDE ROAD MILAGE
A county-wide road milage has been used in the past to
generate funds for the improvements of out-county and urban
streets, and for bridge repair and replacement. The current
county SEV is approximately $1,135,586,000. A one mill levy
would, therefore, generate approximately $1,135,000 per
year. Implementation of a county road milage would require a
general vote of the residents of the county.
4-7 MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDOT) FUNDS
Funds are available periodically through the Michigan
Department of Transportation for improvement of the roadway
system. The State of Michigan has experienced a construction
demand far exceeding the available funding sources and
attaining funds from MDOT has been extremely difficult.
4-8 TIFA FUND CONTRIBUTIONS
The University Park TIFA district may be able to
participate in the improvements of roadways such as
Deerfield and Crawford Roads, which are adjacent to its
boundaries. The requirements of these funds limit their use
to roadways within the TIFA district. Other TIFA districts
operated by Union Township may also participate in funding
the roadways identified as requiring improvements in the
master plan.
4-9 GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTIONS
Union Township currently finances road improvements
through the use of General Fund income. It is possible for
the township to continue, to a limited extent, to provide
these general fund monies for road improvements identified
in the plan. The City of Mt. Pleasant may make such general
fund monies available if general fund sources were
identified that could be utilized for street improvements.
4-10 SAGINAW CHIPPEWA TRIBAL FUNDS
Money has been made available by the Tribe for road
improvements through the 2% local sharing of revenues. Funds
from the Tribe have been used for gravel road paving and the
widening of Isabella Road. Applications for specific street
improvement projects should be submitted to the Tribe for
consideration of 2% funds.
4-11 FUNDING ALTERNATIVES
Each of the funding alternatives discussed above have the
potential to provide needed funds for the implementation of
the master plan. The primary funding mechanisms that are
recommended for road system improvements include:
Special Assessments
FAU Funds
Act 51 Funds
CMU Contributions
County-Wide Road Milage
Tribal 2% Funds
A combination of these funding sources will be required
to implement the projects identified in the master plan.
Individual projects may suggest different blends of funding
sources in order to ensure their implementation. This can
only be determined on a project by project basis.
