Illinois is about to enter its six month without a budget … which means communities haven’t received funding from Springfield.
The winter storm forecast for most of the WNIJ listening area could present an issue for those who rely on motor fuel tax funds from the state.
The National Weather Service is predicting up to eight inches of snow from this weekend’s storm. But Motor Fuel Tax funds trapped in the Illinois budget impasse might mean some communities won’t have access to state money for road salt.
Rockford didn’t have a state contract for road salt last year … but they do this year. Public Works director Tim Hanson says Rockford is getting salt at $64 per ton, which is about half of what the city had to pay last year.
Hanson says Rockford won’t have a problem paying for the salt, since that expense comes from city general funds.
“It’s not taken out of the MFT funds; we use MFT funds for capital improvement projects,” Hanson said.
Hanson says a variety of the city's public works expenses comes from general funds.
