Gila County public works director outlines road miles, equipment needs, chip-seal plan and budget risks ahead of retirement

Homero Palmeiro, the county’s public works director, briefed the Gila County Board of Supervisors on March 25 on road miles, revenues, equipment replacement needs, ongoing projects and policy proposals — and said he expects to retire soon.

Palmeiro told the board that Public Works has 32 road operators who collectively maintain roughly 750 miles of county roads and that ‘‘in general in Gila County Public Works, our operators… maintain 24 miles per person.’’ He described three broad budget pressures: longstanding revenue limits tied to fuel and excise taxes, inflation that outpaces modest year-to-year gains, and a backlog of equipment and capital needs. Palmeiro said the county’s public-works revenue from core sources was ‘‘a little over $9,000,000 in 2024’’ and that a carryforward balance held additional funds but that the department is approaching a point at which it must ‘‘live within our means.’'

Equipment and fleet: Palmeiro and staff reviewed the department’s heavy-equipment inventory and proposed replacements. The department has 14 active motor graders and identified two older graders (model years cited in presentation) recommended for near-term replacement because of hours and parts-availability concerns. The draft capital…