Gila County public works director briefs supervisors on roads, equipment and budget; urges five-year capital plan

Homero Palmeiro, director of Gila County Public Works, told the Board of Supervisors on March 25 the department faces competing demands across miles of county and Forest Service roads, aging heavy equipment and a limited recurring revenue stream that together make a five‑year capital plan essential.

Palmeiro summarized revenues, capital needs and ongoing projects and urged the board to require a multi‑year plan as part of the budget process. He said the county’s HEERF revenue sources and other transportation revenues total about $9,000,000 in 2024 and that the department currently holds approximately $17,000,000 in carryforward funds from prior years. Those carryforward funds are encumbered by ongoing projects, he said, and he recommended preserving a multi‑million‑dollar buffer for future grant matches, unexpected cost increases and revenue volatility.

On road mileage and staffing, Palmeiro said the department has 32 road operators (including supervisors) and that, on average, each operator is responsible for about 24 miles of road. He repeated a central theme: “we are stretching the dollar already,” and emphasized that inflation has outpaced modest increases in gas/excise revenues since 2006.

Forest Service roads and material pits

Palmeiro and supervisors discussed the county’s maintenance of roughly 484 miles…