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Cole County commission prioritizes HVAC, road projects and shop expansion as budget hearings continue
Summary
At its Dec. 2 budget hearing, the Cole County Commission flagged an estimated $2 million HVAC replacement at the law enforcement center, major road and bridge projects and a $2 million-ish central maintenance shop expansion as top capital priorities, while planning a 10-year sales tax ballot.
Cole County commissioners on Dec. 2 continued budget hearings and signaled priorities for next year’s capital spending, highlighting a priority replacement of the law enforcement center HVAC and a multiyear plan for road and bridge projects funded largely by sales tax.
The commission discussed a proposed $2 million placeholder for HVAC work at the law enforcement center, with staff describing a range of options and warranties. County administrator/auditor staff said manufacturers typically offered 18 months from manufacture and 12 months from startup as standard warranties and that extended coverage could be purchased for an additional cost.
Public works staff reviewed road and bridge projects planned for 2026, including Tanner Bridge replacement, South Brooks stormwater improvements and a resurfacing program. The department also described planned heavy-equipment purchases — a road grader ($361,000) and a rubber-tire loader ($205,000) among them — and warned that inflation and supply-chain pressures were pushing project costs higher.
Justin [Unidentified Speaker 4] (public works) asked commissioners to consider accelerating the central maintenance shop expansion so rising construction costs would not increase the project price. "Waiting another year is just gonna cost more money," he said, adding that design work is near-complete and the expansion would allow the county to perform more vehicle maintenance in-house.
Commissioners also discussed the structure of the county’s capital improvement sales tax, which staff plan to propose as a 10-year measure. One commissioner warned against changing the long-standing 85/15 split (85% roads and bridges, 15% bricks-and-mortar) in public materials, saying any shift could affect voter support for the measure.
Several commissioners emphasized fiscal caution given flat revenue forecasts and rising operating costs. "This year of all years is the best time to be conservative on revenue," one said, noting sales-tax receipts have been essentially flat.
Next steps: Commissioners asked staff for more precise cost proposals and warranty options for the HVAC project and said capital projects will return to the commission for formal approval after bids and additional detail are prepared.
