The maintenance of private and individual roads in Vörå is managed according to a two-part system. One part is the system previously established and applied in Vörå, which means the municipality takes full responsibility for road maintenance. The other system, formerly used in Maxmo and Oravais, allows road associations that wish to manage their own road maintenance to do so, with municipal support provided according to a set system.
To be eligible for this support, the road must be kept in acceptable condition. In addition, a valid meeting protocol and a maintenance report must be submitted to the municipality.
Road associations can apply for grants to improve and repair private roads. For bridge repairs, the grant covers 75% of the costs. Additionally, grants are available for improving the road’s load-bearing capacity and for repairs due to flooding and frost damage, covering about 50% of those costs. The project’s cost estimate must be at least 10,000 euros to qualify for a grant.
The ELY Center in South Ostrobothnia awards the grants. Read more about state grants on the ELY Center in South Ostrobothnia’s website.
Application documents for municipal maintenance subsidies for private roads must be submitted to the technical sector no later than September 15 each year. According to current decisions, the municipality pays a subsidy of 80% of the road association’s verifiable costs. However, the size of the subsidy depends on the budget allocated for this purpose. If the maintenance costs exceed 1,000 euros per km, the excess amount is not eligible for the subsidy.
The application form must be used, i.e. filled in. Costs must be added up so that the eligible cost is clearly and obviously presented. Self-made compilations will not be accepted.
The minutes from the latest annual meeting and the audited financial statement must be attached to the application. Copies of receipts do not need to be attached. If an annual meeting is not held every year, which is permitted under Section 60 of the Act on Private Roads, then only the financial statement needs to be attached.
The basis for invoicing road stakeholders, i.e. the unit length, should be updated and in good order but does not need to be attached to the application. Wages and fees paid by the road association are eligible for the subsidy, provided that statutory fees have been paid, i.e. social security contributions and taxes. Items in the accounting records described only as wage, fee, etc., are therefore not eligible for the subsidy. The same applies if one wishes to offset unit costs with work performed—this wage must also be treated as required by law.
The eligible maintenance cost is equal to the road association's maintenance cost minus any maintenance subsidies from authorities. The road must serve permanent residences and be at least 200 m long to be eligible for the subsidy.
Changes to support criteria due to changes in the Act on Private Roads
The municipality decides on subsidies granted from its funds for the maintenance of private roads, on the conditions for the subsidies, on monitoring the use of subsidies, and on whether the municipality will fully or partially undertake the construction or maintenance of a road. A prerequisite for granting maintenance subsidies is that a road association (väglag) has been formed to handle matters concerning the road and that information about the road association and the private road in the register of private roads and in the road and street network information system is up to date as required in Section 50 of the Act on Private Roads.
If a receipt showing that notification has been made has not previously been submitted, it must be attached to the application.
The register is maintained by the National Land Survey, and the information system is maintained by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency in so-called Digiroad. Contact information and further details can be found on the Transport Infrastructure Agency’s website https://vayla.fi
Other
Road associations are encouraged to check that traffic signs and address signs are in good condition along the road. If needed, straighten the posts and clean the signs.