For some time Middletown’s streets have been getting worse and worse with cracks and potholes. The city is looking to fix these deteriorating roadways, but it is going to take a lot of appropriated funds. The city this year has pooled together $2 million from several city funds to help fix the roads in 2013, which is four to five times more than has been invested in recent years.

Councilman Josh Laubach calls the attempt to appropriate city funds to the streets “a start…but nowhere near the level of funding that we need.”

A recent study has shown that in order to maintain the 600 lane miles of roads in the city, the city must invest at least $5 million a year for 20 years. This would be a dramatic increase from the typical $200,000 to $500,000 that the city usually spends each year on streets.  The city invested $300,000 this year and $400,000 was invested in 2011.

According to interim Public Works and Utilities director Preston Combs, about three-quarters of the city’s streets are in need of some type of repair; whether that is resurfacing, repaving, or even rehabilitation, in some areas.

Less than five percent of local funding goes to roadways, and it’s been that way for a while according to councilman Laubach. Part of the problem is that most of the budget goes to funding personnel, pension, and other “high ticket” expenses, which could be a problem in the future.

The city attempted to pass a 0.75 percent tax increase in 2006 to support roads, parks, and emergency services, but it failed.

There is no guarantee that the city will be able to find $2 million in funding every year to invest in street repairs, says City Manager Judy Gilleland, but it is of particular interest to the council and city staff.

The city’s first priority is to repair streets that have a utility, such as storm water or sewer lines, in need of repair. Streets without curbs and gutters will be a second priority in order to keep costs down. At least two-thirds of the funds will be used on these types of streets.

Roads that aren’t in need of utility work are expected to be repaired in spring of 2013; roads with utility work needed should be repaired in the fall after any potential work is accomplished.