A new report shows local governments are starting to increase their spending on roads again, after directing their limited resources to other areas during the recession.
The annual study from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance found that the state’s largest cities and villages increased spending on local road maintenance by about 3.8 percent in 2011, the first increase since the recession started in 2008. Alliance President Todd Berry says it appears they are in “catch up mode,” and refocusing on something they may have overlooked for a couple of years.
Berry says the statewide average spent on roads by local governments was about $116 per resident, which is still below the $122 per capita they were spending in 2008.
Road maintenance is one of four areas that typically make up the majority of what local governments spend their money on, along with administrative costs, and police and fire operations.
