County Commission | The Magazine April 2020 | Page 28

FROM THE COVER A round of funding was announced in October, and design work on the first ATRIP-II projects got well underway in early 2020. Federal Aid Exchange Progress Another provision of the Act created a process for counties to exchange their annual allocation of federal aid dollars — and the red tape that comes with it — for less-restricted state dollars. The Technical Advisory Committee of the Association of County Engineers of Alabama met with Alabama Department of Transportation leadership in February to discuss Rebuild Alabama implementation and to finalize the memorandum of agreement governing the Federal Aid Exchange Fund procedures. These funds will begin flowing from the state once eligible counties execute the memorandum of agreement. n What is Rebuild Alabama? The Alabama Legislature passed the Rebuild Alabama Act last year, and Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law in March 2019. The Act is historic because it is the first increase in recurring funding for roads and bridges in the state since 1992. Revenue comes primarily from a phased-in, 10-cents-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuels, with proceeds benefitting State, county and city infrastructure. Rebuild Alabama also set new standards of transparency and accountability so citizens will be well informed about how the revenue is benefitting all 67 counties. Those requirements have been taken to heart at the county level. “We have consistently said counties will be efficient and transparent with the new funds,” said ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield. “Throughout the implementation phase, county governments have worked collectively so they can be responsible and accountable with each and every dollar, and we will continue to do so.” On the Web | AlabamaCounties.org/RebuildAL • County Transportation Plans from All 67 counties • Bid Announcements • Reference Documents and Resources for Counties Workers’ Compensation | Liability | Property Providing expert claims administration and safety services exclusively to Alabama counties County Risk Services Inc. [phone] (local) 1 [phone] (toll free) [phone] (fax) Post Office Box 589, Montgomery, AL 36101 www.countyrisk.org Claims Reporting: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] © drubig-photo - stock.adobe.com 28 | APRIL 2020