86.312 Local roads for job preservation program.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Job" means an employment position providing full-time equivalent employment. “Job" does not include initial training before an employment position begins.

(b) “Local roads" means streets under the authority of cities or villages, county trunk highways or town roads.

(c) “Political subdivision" means any city, village, town or county.

(d) “Population" means the number of inhabitants in the previous year determined by the department of administration under s. 16.96 (2) for purposes of revenue sharing distribution.

(e) “Project" means the development, construction, repair or improvement of a local road.

(2)

(a) The department shall administer a local roads for job preservation program to award grants to political subdivisions for any project that the department determines is necessary to support business and retain jobs in the vicinity of the local road. The department may award grants under this section for any costs related to a project, including costs of acquiring rights-of-way, planning, designing, engineering, and constructing a local road. The department may specify the pavement to be used in any project funded under this section for the purpose of enhancing the pavement life and cost-effectiveness of the project.

(b) The department may, upon application, award a grant to any political subdivision under this section for a project if the secretary determines all of the following:

1. That if the project is not completed, the political subdivision could lose a number of jobs equal to or greater than 5 percent of the population of the political subdivision, or that the project is necessary to retain jobs of one or more employer who employs at least 5 percent of the work force residing in the political subdivision.

2. That the political subdivision will provide the local share required under sub. (3).

(3) Each political subdivision that receives a grant under this section shall provide a local contribution toward the costs of the project in an amount equal to at least 20 percent of the cost of the project.

(4)

(a) Except as provided in this subsection, grants under this section may be paid from the appropriations under ss. 20.395 (2) (fb) and (fz) and 20.866 (2) (uwz). Notwithstanding par. (b), the department may pay from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (uwz) that portion of a grant that is intended to be used to acquire rights-of-way or to plan, design or engineer a project.

(b)

1. Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., the portion of any grant awarded under this section for local road construction shall be paid from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (fz).

2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the portion of any grant awarded under this section for local road construction exceeds the amount of unencumbered funds under s. 20.395 (2) (fz), the department shall pay from the appropriation under s. 20.395 (2) (fb) the amount by which that portion exceeds the unencumbered funds available in the appropriations under s. 20.395 (2) (fz).

3. If the portion of any grant awarded under this section for local road construction exceeds the amount of unencumbered funds under s. 20.395 (2) (fb) and (fz), the department shall pay from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (uwz) the amount by which that portion exceeds the unencumbered funds available in the appropriations under s. 20.395 (2) (fb) and (fz).

(5) Costs incurred by a city, village, town or county for a project awarded under this section are not eligible for reimbursement under s. 86.31.

(6) The sum of grants awarded under this section may not exceed $10,000,000.

History: 1999 a. 146; 2001 a. 109.