Dover, Ohio (WJER) - The city of Dover will spend almost twice as much on road paving this year following council’s approval of the 2019 budget Monday night. 

Dover city council unanimously accepted appropriations of $66.3 million for 2019. Finance Committee Chairman Don Mauer says that total is only slightly higher than last year.

“The way we’ve been operating lately is staying well within our budget, and I credit every single department head for doing that,” he says. “They live well within their means and, of course, the administration takes that into account”

Council President Shane Gunnoe says one of the biggest differences in the budget is the money going toward road paving – nearly 5oo thousand dollars.

“That in and of itself is the most we’ve committed from city dollars that I can remember in my 10 years on council. Previous years, we had always been in the 250 to 300 thousand dollar range, so it represents a significant increase,” he says. “We’re hoping to really do a good job and get caught up on some roads that need it around town.”

Mauer says city officials are hopeful they can afford to finish more paving projects this year, but that might not be the case.

“The sad news is I’m not sure how much more we’re going to be able to pave because of the cost,” he says. “Those costs have doubled and tripled over the last couple of years, but we are allocating more money.”

Other 2019 appropriations are for new vehicles, park projects, and a cemetery addition.

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