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Road and Bridge Seeks Extra Funding as Material Prices Rise and Crews Leave for Oil Field Work
Summary
Road and Bridge told commissioners flex base rose about $1.60 per ton and oil about $0.27 per gallon; combined with roughly 15 vacant positions as workers left for oil‑field jobs, the department requested a notable budget increase to maintain road projects.
County engineering officials told the Commissioners Court that rising material costs and worker shortages are putting pressure on the Road and Bridge budget.
Staff reported that flex base — a common road‑building aggregate — has increased by about $1.60 a ton and diesel/oil costs have risen roughly $0.27 a gallon, and that those two items are driving much of the requested budget increase for road materials and operations. Engineering also said the division is short approximately 15 workers because employees have accepted higher‑paying jobs in the Eagle Ford oil field and with contractors (staff cited local contractors and “Eagle Ford/Shell” as hiring sources). The combination of higher unit prices and fewer crews has slowed construction output and prompted the department to ask for additional funding to preserve road work levels.
The presiding officer asked Public Works to walk the court through how road projects and priorities are allocated so commissioners understand the process that decides which roads are built or resurfaced. Staff agreed to present the allocation and prioritization method at a follow‑up meeting so commissioners can weigh the request against competing county needs.
No vote was taken; staff will return with prioritization and budget implications.
