Story County engineers present FY2026 secondary roads budget; shop expansion and equipment purchases debated

Darren Moon, engineer, and staff reviewed the proposed FY2026 secondary roads budget at a Feb. 6 Story County Board of Supervisors work session, projecting $9,367,959 in FY2026 revenues and a FY2025 reestimate of $8,889,930 while flagging several revenue and cost uncertainties.

The review focused on revenue reestimates, materials and equipment costs, and a potential shop expansion. Moon said road-use tax receipts have repeatedly come in higher than county estimates and that the county should be cautious about FEMA reimbursements after federal funds were temporarily frozen; staff reduced a FY2026 FEMA revenue projection from $195,000 to $169,000, and noted some items were deemed ineligible. "They've underestimated for a number of years now," Moon said of the DOT's road-use tax projections, but added that recent three-year averages have exceeded internal estimates.

Why it matters: the secondary roads fund finances road maintenance, equipment replacement and small construction projects that affect residents, farming and commercial traffic across Story County. Staff said the fund needs to maintain a healthy ending balance to cover future motor-grader replacements and to absorb unexpected bridge repairs or storm damage.

Key budget items and staff recommendations

- Revenues and reestimates: Moon recommended increasing a miscellaneous auction revenue line for FY2026 (Purple Wave sales) to $15,000 and boosting a FY2025 reestimate for secondary road materials from $1,500 to $7,000 because of unanticipated billing credits from Martin Marietta. Overall FY2026 revenues were presented as $9,367,959 with the…