Rising asphalt expenses could drive up local license plate fees

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by Amanda Harnocz

Reporter

Tallmadge -- Residents of Tallmadge should be prepared to pay a $10 fee instead of the current $5 fee for road projects when purchasing license plates for their vehicles.

"The state and county allow us to tack on the fee," said Mayor Christopher Grimm.

With the $5 fee currently in place, the city brings in approximately $70,000 a year," Grimm said.

The mayor will bring an ordinance to Council proposing to increase the cost.

The money generated from that fee is used to improve road conditions, said Grimm. "Part of the problem we're getting into is the cost of road improvements continues to increase."

Several years ago asphalt cost about $20 for a ton, Grimm said, adding today asphalt is costing approximately $60 to $80 a ton.

"A ton of asphalt doesn't surface a lot of space," he said. "We needed to find another revenue source -- the cost is just shooting through the roof."

The city has about 100 miles of road to resurface and approximately 10 miles are resurfaced every year, he said.

The estimated $140,000 expected to be generated in a year from the fee increase will be used for the road resurfacing project, according to Grimm.

"People don't even [notice] the $5 [fee] now," he said.

City Council is expected to review the fee ordinance during its May 5 meeting at 7 p.m.

E-mail: aharnocz@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3911