HB492 Summary

• Applies exclusively to Washington County and establishes two separate county departments effective October 1, 2021: the Washington County Road Department (managing unpaved roads) and the Washington County Road, Bridge, and Engineering Department (managing paved roads and bridges).

• Divides county road and bridge funding into two separate funds: the Washington County Unpaved Road Fund receives one-half of pre-2019 state motor fuel taxes and one-half of county ad valorem taxes for roads, with 45% distributed equally among five districts and 55% based on unpaved road mileage per district.

• The County Road and Bridge Fund receives one-half of pre-2019 state motor fuel taxes, one-half of county ad valorem taxes, all state motor fuel taxes levied after 2018, local county motor fuel taxes, and county sales and use taxes earmarked for roads.

• Requires a county referendum approved by the Judge of Probate to be held in conjunction with the next regularly scheduled state or local election; act becomes operative only if approved by a majority of voters, otherwise the act is repealed.

• Amends Act 2011-605 to allow the county commission to establish up to two shop locations for the Road, Bridge, and Engineering Department and clarifies the county engineer's duties and responsibilities for paved roads and bridges.