Indiana leaders expect influx of funds for road construction

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Local government leaders in Indiana are poised to receive an influx of state money for road construction projects this summer.

The Evansville Courier & Press (http://bit.ly/28QNa1y ) reports that the funding takes the form of a one-time gift, derived from an excess in income taxes, that state lawmakers chose to give local governments.

Posey County Commissioner James Alsop says he foresees an increase in construction statewide because "you never want to pass up on free money."

Posey County received about $1.7 million from the state, while Gibson County received $900,000. Warrick and Vanderburgh counties received $2.5 million and $3.1 million, respectively. The gift amount was determined by population size.

State lawmakers said local governments can also use the money as their matching funds for the Community Crossings grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Grant money will be distributed based on individual projects. Half of the available $150 million must go to rural counties.

Posey County is working on its application and plans to ask for $1 million.

Warrick County officials are considering which projects to write proposals for. Commissioner Don Williams said any money that the county gets will likely go toward repaving roads for economic development purposes.

Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said the city spent about $1.8 million on infrastructure projects in 2015, down from previous years. Evansville plans to apply for the grant money for additional projects.

The Indiana Department of Transportation officials have announced the grant program will be extended until July 29 due to high volume of interest from across the state.

Officials expect to notify the communities that have won grants by the end of August.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com