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Bel Air schedules $430,000 in resurfacing and proposes $345,000 in vehicle replacements for FY26
Summary
Public works staff presented a $2.2 million streets operating budget that includes roughly $430,000 for resurfacing several streets and $345,000 proposed for vehicle replacements, citing salt corrosion and plow wear as drivers for replacement timing.
Public Works presented the town’s proposed FY26 streets budget on May 7, 2025, detailing resurfacing priorities, equipment purchases and vehicle replacement needs.
The proposed streets operating budget is $2,196,962. Staff listed a resurfacing program that would use roughly $430,000 this year to repave segments including Lynnwood Avenue, Maitland Street, South Atwood Road, Grayson Square, Shamrock Road and Hall Street. The resurfacing plan emphasizes using one contract that may require nighttime work on higher‑traffic segments.
Vehicle and equipment capital requests were also highlighted. Staff requested $47,000 for equipment capital (utility trailer and a new Main Street clock) and $345,000 for vehicle capital, including replacing a rusted, plow‑worn dump truck (estimated replacement cost $265,000) and an F‑550 mini dump (estimated $80,000). Staff explained salt and plowing put heavy wear on chassis and frames and that a typical replacement horizon for heavy plow trucks is about 10 years.
How it matters: staff said keeping a steady equipment‑replacement schedule prevents higher maintenance costs and service disruptions. “If we hold on to them and run them for a lot more miles, you pay a lot more for repairs,” a public works speaker said; staff noted auction revenue for retired equipment offsets some costs.
Supporting details: staff discussed the street‑sweeper’s expensive repairs and an aging JetVac truck the town plans to retain longer. The FY26 plan also includes sidewalk maintenance budgeting ($60,000) and curb and gutter replacement tied to resurfacing projects. The town said it received higher than expected highway fund allocations this cycle, allowing extra resurfacing work.
Staff direction and next steps: staff will move forward with bidding one large resurfacing contract and return to the commission for contract award. Vehicle purchases and capital replacements will follow the vehicle‑replacement plan and be phased to avoid large one‑year spikes.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the maintenance‑driven nature of the requests and asked staff to proceed with procurements under the FY26 plan and to provide timing for major vehicle replacements.
