Highway department presenters described the 2026 capital program, which emphasizes a $2 million road maintenance bond, multiple bridge and culvert projects carried with town partners and equipment replacement, and discussed timing for bond issuance and state reimbursement programs.

Administration materials showed a proposal to bond the road maintenance program for $2,000,000 and to include several bridge projects and a Fall Creek Road local share. Highway staff said some projects have federal or state reimbursement and that towns sometimes serve as project managers with the county reimbursing town shares after completion.

Legislators asked whether the bonds would be new debt or replacements for retiring debt and requested a longer‑term view of bond payments to understand how annual debt service would change. Budget staff said some existing debt will retire in upcoming years and that detailed debt‑service projections would be provided for future meetings.

Why it matters: Road and bridge investments affect safety and long‑term maintenance costs. The committee discussed how bonding now and in future years affects the county’s debt profile and potential tax levy impacts, and asked for an amortization schedule that shows when current bonds retire and how new bonds would be phased in.

Next steps: Highway and finance staff will produce a debt‑service projection and explain CHIPS and other state reimbursement timing relative to capital outlays.

Ending: Legislators thanked highway staff and asked finance to include bond retirement timing in future capital briefings.