Citrus County officials outline $40 million annual estimate to maintain county road network

Citrus County officials and outside counsel told the Board of County Commissioners on June 23 that maintaining the county's roads at an acceptable condition will likely cost roughly $40 million a year, and that larger capacity projects can carry individual per-mile price tags in the millions.

The county's presentation to the board explained how projects move from planning and study to design, right-of-way acquisition and construction, and why federal or state funding changes the process and the county's responsibilities.

County Tech Services Director Walt E. Spence and real property attorney Campbell McClain led the discussion. McClain said the work follows a set of repeatable steps and cautioned that failing to follow required procedures can jeopardize state or federal funding and the county's ability to acquire property by eminent domain. "Local government is charged with protecting the health, safety and welfare of its citizens," McClain said. "The failure to abide by the correct procedures will put at risk your ability to get state and federal funding and risk your ability to take property through eminent…