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Bonner County approves $2.55 million in Road & Bridge carryforwards, other project funding
Summary
The Bonner County Board of County Commissioners approved multiple FY2026 budget actions to add unanticipated state revenues, carry forward unfinished projects and reserve accrued interest for future Road & Bridge work.
Bonner County commissioners on Oct. 7 approved a set of resolutions to move more than $2.5 million into next year’s Road & Bridge budget to finish ongoing projects and reserve interest for future work.
Jason Taub, director of Road and Bridge, told the commissioners the county received $2,546,970.54 in unanticipated state revenue and asked the board to add those funds to FY2026 line items. "These funds came from the excess tax revenue from the state," Taub said, and the requested changes included $1,426,600 for asphalt mix and $1,120,283.48 for bridge repairs tied to the replacement project described in the resolution.
The board also approved three additional carryforward items Taub presented: $249,866 to carry forward funding for the East Shore Guardrail project (the first phase awarded to Ideal Fencing, Inc.), $617,354.98 remaining on a previously obligated state/local agreement for the Spirit Lake project, and a resolution to carry forward interest accrued in the road-and-bridge fund (revenue line 0024710) into FY2026 to seed future projects.
Why it matters: The actions allow projects that began in FY2025 to be completed without increasing anticipated property taxes, citing Idaho Code 31-16-05, which the county referenced as authority to reallocate adopted-budget funds across fiscal years. Commissioners said carrying forward funds would avoid delays that increase project costs and would let the county use interest earned on fund balances to support planned projects such as the East River Loop bridge.
The board voted on each resolution by roll call; the motions passed unanimously. Commissioners noted operational issues tied to multi-year projects, including a 3‑ton weight restriction that has complicated plow operations on one bridge awaiting replacement.
Background and supporting details: Taub described the Line 0028490 (plant asphalt mix) increase and the Line 0028551 (bridge repairs) changes as necessary to complete work that started in FY2025 but will finish in FY2026. The East Shore Guardrail project includes roughly 5,512.5 feet of guardrail for $249,866 and is expected to be complete in November. The Spirit Lake project had an originally obligated contribution of $677,100; about $617,354.98 remained unexpended and was carried forward for final payout.
Commissioners asked for a reminder to ensure final measurements on the guardrail work match contract specifications. Directors and commissioners also discussed the administrative mechanics of carrying interest forward monthly into the designated road-and-bridge interest line so the county can apply that revenue to large planned projects rather than letting it flow to the general fund.
Ending: With the resolutions approved, Road & Bridge staff will coordinate with the county clerk’s office to open the FY2026 budget lines and post the carried-forward and unanticipated revenues as approved by the board.
