I don't know everything about  Nebraska.  I spent a day driving Route 20 across your state.    How did they pay for THAT  road?    That was a really nice road.  There was one time we went 10 miles and did not meet another vehicle.     I understand it is expensive to register and license a car in Nebraska too.   Don't know a thing about your local twp.  roads.   Most looked to be graveled   Looked like school transportation could get very expensive in that part of the state.   

In Illinois  the quality of our townships roads has to do with:   the quality of the road commissioner for the past 50 years,  and the amount of taxes they have per mile of road to maintain them.    Our township made a decision about 50 years ago to make most roads  blacktop.   That is why we have such nice roads.  Plus,  I was told we have more  $$/mile that the neighboring townships.