The ten cent per gallon increase in the state gas tax got the attention of motorists earlier this year when it went into effect July 1. Now we know the estimated amount of that increase which will be coming back to local units of government for improvement of our streets and roads.

State Rep. Kathy Richardson’s Statehouse office released figures yesterday that show Hamilton County’s cities, towns and county highway department will get more than $8.4 million next year in additional money to build, repair and maintain local roads and streets.

The disbursements will follow a formula that has been used for years for gas tax distribution based on miles of roadways and population of the various jurisdictions.

As one would expect the county highway department, which is responsible for about 650 miles of roadways, will receive the most, estimated at about $2.8 million.

The eight cities and towns in the county will get the remainder of the added money. The breakdown is as follows rounded to the nearest thousand dollars:

Arcadia          $28,000

Atlanta           $17,000

Carmel           $1.82 million

Cicero             $108,000

Fishers           $1.71 million

Noblesville    $1.17 million

Sheridan        $60,000

Westfield       $693,000

The estimates are based on data from past history of gas sales and the number of vehicles registered in the local areas. The anticipated increase in revenue may allow local governing bodies to adjust their 2018 street budgets, adding more for repair or rebuilding.