Public works directors warn tight budgets, staffing gaps and landfill margin squeeze as sales‑tax accounting is reviewed

Public Works Director Eric (last name not specified) and county finance staff described accounting, staffing and operational issues the Public Works Department says will affect the county’s 2026 road and landfill work.

Eric and Susan (county finance staff) told commissioners that the accounting for the county sales‑tax fund and the road and bridge mill levy has been hard to track because some reports were delayed and because transfers between funds are sometimes recorded generally rather than tied to a discrete project. "Eric tracks all of these projects," a staff member said, noting Public Works keeps detailed miles, materials and labor data; Eric said transfers were sometimes used to cover timing differences "because county distribution hadn't come in yet."

Commissioners were briefed on the department’s budget drivers: projected sales‑tax revenue for 2026 of roughly $1.32 million compared with about $1.38 million in 2025, an anticipated transfer to road…