County, state governments at odds over Arizona stimulus funds
As it stands, Maricopa County expects enough stimulus money to complete potentially four projects, including vital expansions of Interstates 10 and 17.
The Associated Press
2/27/2009
PHOENIX — Maricopa County's regional government appears to be on a collision course with the state over how to spend federal stimulus money on highways.
Last week, the State Transportation Board earmarked $130 million in federal highway stimulus money for the Maricopa Association of Governments to spend.
MAG voted to lobby the Arizona Department of Transportation, the governor and key lawmakers to reconsider and steer $176 million to the region.
As it stands, Maricopa County expects enough stimulus money to complete potentially four projects, including vital expansions of Interstates 10 and 17.
If MAG gets its best case, as many as 13 projects could be built.
The State Transportation Board will meet Tuesday to finalize the $522 million list of projects statewide.
The first dollars are expected March 10, and ADOT hopes to award all the contracts by early May.
The battle for dollars stems from what MAG officials say is an understanding with state lawmakers about ready-to-go highway projects.
In 2006, the Legislature created an account to accelerate key projects but in January gutted the account to balance the budget. Projects, including plans to widen I-10 and I-17, were shelved.
The State Transportation Board decided unanimously to follow historical funding formulas, setting aside half the money for rural Arizona.
Under the state's plan, Maricopa County would get 37 percent of Arizona's stimulus money for highways. Planners at MAG pointed out that the county has 60 percent of the state's population and 80 percent of the construction jobs lost in the past two years.
Using the most optimistic formulas, the disputed $46 million would create around 1,600 direct and indirect jobs in Maricopa County.
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