Black Hawk County engineer outlines FY26 road budget, equipment purchases and $10 million shop plan

Kathy Nicholas, Black Hawk County engineer, told the Board of Supervisors on the county’s FY26 budget that the secondary road fund (Fund 120) is projected to bring in roughly $9.45 million next year and that the department plans to spend about $8.49 million, leaving a projected net of about $685,000 in Fund 120 for FY26.

Nicholas said the county receives road-use tax money from the Iowa Department of Transportation and other state sources, and that those receipts are constitutionally protected for roads and bridges. She described the county’s operating priorities—design and construction administration, maintenance, and preventive treatments—and explained the reporting and submission requirements the department must meet with the Iowa DOT.

The overview laid out why the engineer’s office budgets a multi-pronged revenue mix: the DOT road-use distribution, “Time 21” DOT allocations, state miscellaneous grants, local reimbursements (for example, 28E agreements such as snow-plowing revenue from Raymond), and limited sales of capital assets. Nicholas said historically county receipts have exceeded DOT projections by about $350,000 annually, contributing to a growing fund balance.

The department proposes roughly $4.35 million in salaries for FY26, with a staff complement of about 42 full-time employees (42.06 FTEs including shared positions). Operating highlights include a $153,000 construction materials line (culverts), a $89,000 software request…