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Kendall County debates adding a road crew as commissioners weigh fund 11 balances
Summary
Officials debated whether to hire a six-person Road & Bridge crew and a vehicle to tackle backlog projects. Staff say fund 11 (vehicle registration and vehicle-sales commissions) has a multi-million-dollar balance and can support materials and some salaries, but commissioners disagreed on timing and long-term sustainability.
Kendall County commissioners on July 30 reviewed a Road & Bridge proposal to add a six-person crew and a vehicle to accelerate capital and maintenance projects.
Road & Bridge staff presented a multi-year project list and a staffing plan estimated to cost roughly $5.14 million including vehicles and equipment, with a projected general-fund salary impact of $366,963 for a full crew year. The department said fund 11 — financed by an $11 vehicle registration add-on and a 5% sales tax commission on vehicle sales — carries approximately a $5 million fund balance and currently budgets projects including seal-coat and new-construction work.
Commissioners split over timing. Some members favored hiring the crew and starting Jan. 1 to address urgent pavement and drainage needs, arguing the fund balance and projected vehicle-fee revenues can sustain the work. Others urged caution, citing the risk of depleting a fund intended for one-time capital and materials and the need to preserve reserves for disaster-response obligations (including potential FEMA cost shares). One commissioner proposed a phased approach: hire a crew leader earlier, then stagger remaining hires.
Road & Bridge supervisors and the auditor recommended the court consider a phased hire (crew leader first, full crew later) and to budget materials increases (estimates of $200,000–$300,000 were discussed) if the court proceeds. The court discussed using fund 11 for initial materials while funding recurring payroll partly from general fund in the near term.
Next steps: The court asked staff to produce a 5‑year projection showing the fund 11 sustainability under different hiring and project-spend scenarios, and to return with a recommended start date and phasing plan for any new hires.
