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Worth County approves FY 2026 DOT budget and five-year construction program
Summary
The Worth County Board of Supervisors approved the county Department of Transportation FY 2026 budget and a five‑year construction program that includes a $2.5 million construction line for local overlays and $6 million in estimated local funding in 2028; board members noted carryover balances and TIF funds that could change project timing.
Worth County’s Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve the Department of Transportation (DOT) budget for fiscal year 2026 and the county’s five‑year road and bridge program, moving forward with planned paving and bridge projects and authorizing staff to submit the DOT documents.
County Engineer Rich presented the plan and told supervisors the DOT submission mirrors the county budget and that the county is budgeting $2,500,000 for construction in the near term, much of it aimed at a concrete overlay on a local road near Fertile. "You'll see there's 2,500,000.0 in construction, and that's gonna burn some of our carryover," Rich said. He described the overlay as 6 inches of concrete and said the work would be tied into existing approaches at bridge locations rather than placed over bridge tops.
The program presented includes local roadway and bridge projects plus farm‑to‑market work. Rich said the schedule is subject to change after the county’s bridge inspections this winter and that federal aid eligibility and available local carryover will influence what is built and when. He noted an estimated $6,000,000 of local money showing in the program for 2028 but cautioned that amount is uncertain and would require board direction to use.
Supervisors discussed tax increment financing (TIF) balances and carryover. The county has TIF money tied to urban renewal projects; Rich said there appears to be more than $2,000,000 in TIF funds carried but that some of that is already committed and would need reconciliation. The board also reviewed the DOT spreadsheet that flags when estimated balances go negative and requires the county to pause borrowing on farm‑to‑market funds if limits are exceeded.
After the presentation, a supervisor moved to approve the FY 2026 DOT budget and five‑year construction plan; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
The board asked staff to continue reconciling TIF balances and carryover funds and to monitor upcoming bridge inspections that may change priorities in the five‑year plan. Rich said he will submit the DOT packet along with the county budget documents as required.
Ending: The DOT budget and program are now submitted as approved; the board expects bridge inspection results and further reconciliation of TIF and carryover funds to refine the construction schedule later this winter.
