Streets Maintenance Expenditures
Streets fund expenditures are funded by state gasoline taxes and vehicle registration revenue. A portion of these revenues is allocated based on population and gain in the 2020 Census is expected to have a positive effect. The Michigan legislature approved an increase in fuel taxes effective January 1, 2017, and the increase was noted that spring. Prior to this, revenues from the gasoline tax and vehicle registration were barely sufficient to provide a continuing level of service in these critical areas of maintenance. Economic effect of the pandemic has had some but not a major impact on these revenues.
Paser Rating Chart
Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER*) System
Currently, the certified mileage for local streets in the City of Portage is 150.61 centerline miles and major streets mileage is 72.90. In Michigan, streets are rated using the PASER system, rating streets based on a numerical scale from 1 to 10 as follows:
PASER Rating & Description
9 - 10 = New Construction/Excellent
6 - 8 = Good Condition
4 - 5 = Fair Condition3 = Poor
2 = Very Poor
1 = Failed
The chart above illustrates how the average PASER rating had been increasing from 2011-2012 when it decreased from 2016-2017 to 4.76*, but it increased to 5.44 in 2018-2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PASER ratings statewide were not conducted in 2020. Investment in street maintenance and reconstruction will continue as resources are available to improve both the local and major street networks.
*The PASER scale is a 1-10 rating system for road pavement conditions developed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Transportation Information Center. PASER uses visual inspection to evaluate pavement surface conditions, and as such ratings can be affected by reviewer subjectivity year-to-year.
Major Streets Fund
The Major Streets Fund accounts for the costs associated with the maintenance of major streets performed by the Department of Public Works and Transportation & Utilities. Financing is provided primarily by state-collected gasoline and vehicle registration taxes. This fund accounts for the costs associated with major street routine maintenance, shoulder maintenance, road repairs, roadside maintenance, pavement markings, signs, signals and crossings, and winter maintenance.
Budget Overview: The 2022-2023 Major Streets Fund budget provides for routine street maintenance, winter maintenance, contracted tree trimming, tree planting, pavement markings, guardrail replacements, traffic signal maintenance, and boulevard mowing.
Revenues
Expenditures
Local Streets Fund
The Local Streets Fund accounts for the costs associated with the maintenance of local streets performed by the Department of Public Works and Transportation & Utilities, including routine maintenance, shoulder maintenance, road repairs, roadside maintenance, pavement markings, signs, signals and crossings, and winter maintenance. Financing is provided by state-collected gasoline and vehicle registration taxes and transfers from the Major Streets Fund.
Budget Overview: The 2022-2023 Local Streets Fund budget provides for contracting tree trimming/removal, tree planting, pavement markings, a portion of the road repair programs, and a mill & fill paving program.
Revenues
Expenditures
Municipal Streets
Beginning in fiscal 2007-2008, the municipal streets fund was established to administer a tax levy up to 1 mill to fund street improvements that were formerly funded by special assessments on properties benefiting from the improvements. The purpose of the fund is to collect the tax assessment and transfer it to the Capital Improvement Fund for street capital improvements.