Indy road-funding changes moving through Statehouse
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
It's the final week of the legislative session, when bills move fast and change even faster.
The big picture: Several legislative proposals are still moving that could have major implications for Indianapolis, including Senate Bill 179, a transportation bill that would change the rules for how the city can access additional road funding.
Why it matters: Pothole season is upon us — a reminder of just how desperately the city needs those dollars.
Catch up quick: Lawmakers last year paved the way for Indianapolis to get an additional $50 million in road funding, provided the city matches that with new local dollars.
- It was considered a major win for the city, which has long advocated for changes to the state's road-funding formula. The city says the formula doesn't adequately account for Indy's wider roads, which require more maintenance than narrow, rural ones.
State of play: Lawmakers, frustrated with a budget proposal that allowed City-County Council members to spend $1 million each on individual projects, made changes that put new restrictions on spending and increased the city's required match.
- Instead of an annual $50 million in matching funds, the city's required input will increase to $70 million in year two and will increase $10 million more each year after, up to $100 million.
Yes, but: That's a compromise from the original proposal, which would have seen the city's match increase by $50 million each year.
- City officials told lawmakers that while they would appreciate the additional state money, an annual $50 million increase would be extremely hard for the city to keep up with.
What they're saying: Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton) said the idea is to incentivize the city to invest in its own roads.
- "I think at some point, the city can't do it … it grows too rapidly," Thompson said of the earlier approach. "I want to keep the city on board."
What's next: Should SB 179 get through the House this week, it will still need the Senate to sign off on the changes.