Public Works defends large spending plan, outlines roads, facilities and vehicle‑replacement program

Public Works leaders told the Coconino County Board of Supervisors they plan to spend down years of accumulated fund balance and accelerate road, drainage and facility projects while proposing changes to the county’s fleet replacement and shop charge structure.

"We are spending down the fund balance," Administrative Services manager Jeremy Floyd said, summarizing recent financial activity. Department presenters said the transportation fund and the road maintenance sales‑tax (Prop 403) revenues have allowed the department to deliver more construction and preservation work than in previous years.

Public Works spelled out the elements of the FY26 plan: pavement preservation across multiple geographic areas, culvert and drainage inspections, ACL‑style studies in Belmont and other corridor‑level work, and a continuing program of tribal‑roads agreements and capital matching funds for BIA/Navajo projects. The department also described near‑term construction for Old Route 66 (widened shoulders and a deep mill‑and‑fill) and segments of Spring Valley Road and Double A Ranch Road.

Fleet and mechanical services

Public Works leaders and fleet managers proposed adjustments in the internal mechanics charge and parts markups intended to stabilize the Mechanical Services internal fund while reducing grant‑funding obstacles for partner departments. Ray Garcia and Joe (fleet manager) said the workshop hourly labor rate would rise (presenters described a proposed increase to approximately $120/hr from the prior rate of $90/hr) while parts markup would be reduced (from 32% to 15% was discussed) so some grant‑funded programs eligible for limited overhead will not be penalized. The department also proposed extending the useful life for general‑use vehicles to 14 years or 50,000 miles while…