Published: October 01, 2008 09:00 am      

Township motor fuel tax allotments down

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Not only are sales tax receipts down in Jefferson County, but the motor fuel tax allotments for townships are down as well, according to information from the Jefferson County Highway Department.

In the first eight months of the year, allotments for townships are down more than $67,000, which is just over 7 percent from the same time last year.

Motor fuel allotments for the townships are based on the number of miles in the township and 19 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24 cents per gallon on diesel sales, according to Jefferson County Highway Engineer Steve Schnake. The basis for county MFT allotments is the fuel tax and vehicle registrations in the county; villages and cities are based on the fuel tax and population.

By township, the allotments are down by:

Bald Hill Township, 51.72 miles, down $3,843.88;

Blissville Township, 45.92 miles, down $3,412.82;

Casner Township, 52.86 miles, down $3,928.61;

Dodds Township, 49.12 miles, down $3,650.65;

Elk Prairie Township, 26.26 miles, down $1,051.67;

Farrington Township, 64.75 miles, down $4,812.29;

Field Township, 60.87 miles, down $4,523.92;

Grand Prairie Township, 63.95 miles, down $4,752.83;

McClellan Township, 59.67 miles, down $4,434.74;

Moores Prairie Township, 61.77 miles, down $4,590.81;

Mt. Vernon Township, 65.31 miles, down $4,853.91;

Pendleton Township, 58.51 miles, down $4,248.52;

Rome Township, 64.50 miles, down $4,793.71;

Shiloh Township, 62.67 miles, down $4,657.70;

Spring Garden Township, 44.15 miles, down $3,281.27; and

Webber Township, 69.83 miles, down $5,189.84.

According to information from the township road commissioners, any decreases in MFT allotments will translate to fewer roads oiled next year. At this time, each township maintains a different percentage of township roads, however the averages are at 50 percent. Total miles of township road in Jefferson County which qualify for MFT funds are just over 900.