The Mower County board is ready to take a look at what road projects it could accomplish if it enacts a half-cent sales tax.

At Tuesday’s 2 p.m. board meeting, Public Works Director Mike Hanson is scheduled to present a list of road and bridge projects the county could complete in the coming years if it enacted a half-cent sales tax to fund road projects.

The board has discussed the topic several times in recent months as board members have seen an uptick in the number of residents voicing concerns about road conditions, but the board has also been outspoken about state’s need to address transportation funding after it failed to do so during last year’s legislative session.

The list of projects will kick off a period of discussion surrounding the projects, as the board has said at past meetings that it wants much public feedback from constituents on the proposal.

In 2013, the state approved a wheelage tax and a half-cent sales tax as options for counties to fund local road and bridge projects, which county officials have called a way for the state to pass off road funding to local government. Mower commissioners approved a $10 wheelage tax in June 2013, which is paid when drivers renew licenses and is estimated to bring in $357,000 a year. However, the board has been more hesitant to discuss the half-cent sales tax. Though the board hasn’t formally discussed the options, the topic has come up several times in discussions on road funding.

Hanson previously told the board that money would be used quickly if the county were to ever approve a half-cent sales tax. It would take about $15 million to replace 25 deficient county bridges and about $4.6 million to replace 34 deficient township bridges without even addressing roads, Hanson has said.

County officials have previously said a half-cent sales tax could net about $2 million for road projects, and the county has heard from several rural residents about concerns over roads conditions in the last year.

Mower County Coordinator Craig Oscarson previously pointed out the half-cent sales tax is a double-edged sword. Traditionally much of the road funding money would come from the gas tax or other state revenue sources. A half-cent sales tax would essentially surpass funding shortfalls at the state, but county leaders fear it could send a message to the state that it can continue putting off the problem. Oscarson has urged the board to push the state to address transportation funding concerns, but he’s also noted other counties approving a half-cent sales tax may already be sending the state the message that it can push the issue off.

Freeborn and other surrounding counties have approved the half-cent sales taxes for roads and bridges, and Oscarson previously said it may only be a matter of time until Mower County is forced to discuss the option.