- April 23, 2024
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Palm Coast’s roads are deteriorating at an alarming rate, according to a consultant’s analysis, and if aging roads aren’t paved soon, it could cost the city millions.
The city now spends about $1.5 million per year to repave roads, but that is well below the $8.23 million recommended to maintain what we already have.
Using the 100-point Pavement Condition Index, the roads were rated 79 in 2017 in a laser-based analysis by Transmap Corp. When they were reassessed in 2021, the roads averaged four points less — 75.
“Our consultants found that alarming when they presented the data,” Carl Cote, the city’s stormwater and engineering director, told the City Council at its May 10 workshop.
If the current funding levels are not increased, the PCI will drop to 66 by 2026, according to Transmap, requiring an even greater investment, since it costs more to repair a road the worse condition it’s in.
The presentation by Cote was in response to a City Council priority to address road conditions by finding alternative funding sources. Currently, the city’s repaving program is funded by a portion of Flagler County’s 6-cent tax on every gallon of gasoline, as well as a portion of state taxes. But those funding sources have remained flat over time, while “the cost of asphalt has been climbing, climbing, climbing,” Cote said. “So we're getting a lot less done.”
Mayor David Alfin suggested that the city ask other cities what solutions they’ve found for other funding sources, so that the burden doesn’t fall to the taxpayers.
“I'm sure others are having the same issue and are getting creative, looking for funding sources that we have not tapped before,” he said.
Staff suggested that other cities have a public service tax and a utility franchise tax that the city doesn’t have.
“Something we can look at,” Alfin said.
The other members of the City Council agreed that road conditions must be addressed.
“It’s a no brainer,” Eddie Branquinho said. “If we don’t go down that path, some of us are going to be drinking some funny stuff,” he added, referring to City Councilman Ed Danko’s claim that he’d rather drink antifreeze than raise taxes.
“Your taxes will go up,” Branquinho warned. “We need to do this.”
“This has been a proverbial can we’ve been kicking down the road,” said Councilman Nick Klufas. He also praised Transmap’s laser technology, which gives the city confidence about the scope and urgency of the problem. “It gives our council the necessary data to have realistic expectations,” he said.
Alfin and Councilman John Fanelli also used the phrase “kick the can down the road,” prompting Danko to say, “We cannot continue to kick this can down the road, because there won’t be a road to kick the can down.”
Danko added, “Roads, fire, police, water — must haves. Which means we need to start making some cuts in order to do what we need to do here. We can't just raise taxes. We have to be a little bit more careful with our money first.”
