RCOC Invites Public to their 2016 Budget Hearing on Aug. 20

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) Board of Road Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on its proposed fiscal year 2016 budget Thursday night, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Auditorium, 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac.

The proposed 2016 budget, at just over $104.7 million, includes plans for just under $20 million worth of road improvement projects such as road widening, reconstruction, resurfacing or gravel road paving or work toward future road-improvement projects; nearly $20.3 million for road maintenance efforts such as pothole patching, gravel road grading and salting and plowing in the winter; and nearly $10.2 million for maintaining traffic signs, signals, pavement markings and guardrails among other activities.

This proposed budget represents an increase of about $4 million compared to the $100.7 million 2015 budget adopted in September of last year. The 2016 proposed budget increased primarily due to an anticipated slight increase in state and federal road funding.

Federal funds are awarded on a project-by-project basis, and the amount RCOC receives tends to fluctuate from year to year. These funds can be used only for heavy construction projects and not for routine maintenance activities such as pothole patching, grading gravel roads, plowing, etc.

The RCOC fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. Final approval of the 2016 budget will take place in September.

RCOC Board Chairman Ron Fowkes will preside over the budget hearing. During the hearing, RCOC Managing Director Dennis Kolar will provide an analysis of the proposed budget and the agency’s financial situation.

Deputy Managing Director/County Highway Engineer Gary Piotrowicz will review the proposed 2016 Road Improvement Program. The Board of Road Commissioners will then receive questions or comments from those in attendance.

Copies of the proposed 2016 budget and a complete list of projects proposed for 2016 will be available at the hearing, and see the above picture for the list of proposed RCOC 2016 road projects.