Shared-services roadway program used nearly all $452,000 in 2024; committee shifted 2025 funding split to mileage-based formula

Washington County staff reported to the Highway Committee that the Roadway Shared Services program used nearly the entire 2024 allocation — $452,000 — leaving $51.92 unspent for one municipality.

The program provides county labor and equipment to municipalities; towns pay materials and latitude to specify work such as cover replacements, vegetation removal, paving, crack filling, chip sealing, shoulder grading, ditching, bridge inspection, guardrail work and some vehicle maintenance. Staff said the arrangement reduces municipal equipment and labor costs because the county provides crews and equipment while municipalities pay material costs.

For 2025 the municipalities' chief elected officials met and agreed to change the funds-distribution methodology. In 2024 the split used a mix of mileage (70%) and an even share (30%); for 2025 the committee voted to base allocations 100% on road mileage. Staff said one municipality dissented. That change explains differences in per-municipality allocations in the packet.

Staff said they have received scope-of-work responses from roughly three-quarters of municipalities and are already scheduling winter-appropriate tasks such as vegetation removal; county patrol staff had scheduled a meeting with the Town of Erin (patrol Slinger) to finalize one scope. Staff reported generally positive feedback from participating local governments about the program's first year and requested continued support.

No formal additional funding was requested at the meeting.