Rumbling over the bad road rut

A wonderful happy Monday!

Today’s question: Are we over the road craze?

Has Citrus County reached a point where the condition of our neighborhood streets and thoroughfares no longer weighs as heavily with us as it once did?

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Are we to say, ‘Welp, my road is a mess, but I know the county is trying. Let’s focus our attention elsewhere.”

Are we there? We’d better be, because the County Commission thinks so.

Very interesting tidbit from Tuesday’s board discussion on the capital improvement program (CIP), which I fondly call the Sea-Eye-Pea.

The recommendation is to spend $19 million in fiscal year 2027 on residential road resurfacing. Of that amount, only $10 million was accounted for, leaving an $8.8 million shortfall.

Chair Diana Finegan took a stab here and there in the spending plan, nothing too deep, in trying to find that extra money. That’s when Commissioner Jeff Kinnard pointed to the sales tax referendum survey as an indicator that citizens are ready to move on.

 “The public was not largely behind, ‘get out and do my roads,’” he said during the board meeting. “I’m not feeling the 80 to 90 percent of the public saying find another $9 million.”

We had a phone chat on Wednesday to make sure I understood Jeff's position. Since the poll showed citizens wouldn’t support a sales tax for roads, Kinnard concluded that citizens do not want to sacrifice other county projects for roads.

Well. Let’s take a look at that.

First off, I disagree with Commissioner Kinnard’s assessment of the sales tax poll. That was intended to discourage citizens from a sales tax referendum for roads, and, shocker, citizens responded accordingly.

Only one finding from that poll spoke directly to a single issue. It said 69% think Citrus County is growing too fast. I didn’t see anything in the report about asking respondents if road resurfacing is a priority. No, they were asked to rank possible uses for a penny sales tax, and road improvements ranked low.

Here’s what those findings tell me: “Government, we want our roads fixed. And, no, we won’t give you extra money to do that.”

While I appreciate Commissioner Kinnard’s thoughts that citizens don’t want other projects delayed finding extra dollars for roads, I’m now a little curious about the county’s approach.

Geez, for the last 12 years, all we've heard is roads, roads, and more roads. The county went out and hired a consultant for more than a few nickels to devise a super-duper plan for our roads that, um, it’s working, right? 

The issue with residential road resurfacing is it’s so personal. Unlike resurfacing, say, South Apopka Avenue (which the county is preparing to do right now), which connects with thousands of homes, repaving the street in front of my house is one-and-done.

With each neighborhood street mile resurfaced, that’s fewer citizens complaining about roads. And, while it’s the major roads that cause the most headaches countywide, you wanna see a happy camper? Check out the Pine Ridge resident whose chunky side street is now smooth asphalt.

The County Commission simply has no strategic plan for roads. I pay attention to this stuff, and I haven’t a clue what’s driving the bus.

That’s why I’m asking candidates, what does our road network look like in five years, and how do we get there? The County Commission doesn’t have that answer.

To be fair, Commissioner Janet Barek didn’t attend Tuesday’s meeting or I’m sure that road conversation would have taken a far different turn. And commissioners promised to pump potential savings from contracts into resurfacing.

Still, it seems like a political shift. Certainly, one to watch.

Are we over our road craze? You tell me.

Have a wonderful Monday, friends.

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