Bartholomew County to see no road grant funds next year

Bartholomew County officials are outraged after the county was turned down for a grant request from the state Community Crossings program that funds local road projects.

The county had submitted an application for $1 million in matching funds from the state, and has been counting on the money to maintain community roads. But last week, the county was notified by INDOT that it was receiving nothing next year.

The Community Crossing grants are funded by gas taxes and county commissioners say the county is not getting its share back. However, they also say it is impossible to get an accounting of how much the county pays in gas taxes.

County Commissioner Tony London said he plans to pursue the issue as far as possible, demanding state officials explain their decision process.

County officials said that they do not believe the snub is a response to the county refusing to institute a so-called wheel tax. State legislation has been approved to tie the grants to local tax-raising efforts, but those do not kick in until next year.

INDOT has not yet publicized its list of grant awardees, but county commissioners say that the city of Columbus was approved for $1 million.