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Harrison County road director warns of critical shortfalls as material costs rise
Summary
Road & Bridge director Becky Benson told the commissioners court that the department is operating with roughly half of requested funds in key lines and that rising material and labor costs have left the department facing a potential shortfall; she urged a pre-budget workshop to set priorities.
Becky Benson, director of Harrison County Road & Bridge, told the commissioners court on April 22 that the department is underfunded and struggling to keep up with rising costs for paving materials, contract construction and salaries.
Benson said the department received, on average, just over half of what it requested across key budget lines this year and noted sustained increases in material prices since 2013. "Money is what it boils down to at this point," Benson said, arguing that without more funding the county will not be able to maintain its road network at current service levels.
The presentation detailed how allocations for road oil and paving, base stabilization and contract construction have lagged behind requests and cited specific cost pressures — including a rise in the price of oil dirt from about $59 a ton in 2013 to roughly $90 a ton now, according to Benson’s charts.
Commissioners pressed for options and asked for follow-up information. One commissioner asked whether state or federal grant programs could be pursued; county staff said they are exploring federal grant possibilities and will monitor a state program that might match local needs.
Benson urged a workshop before the next budget cycle to examine distribution by precinct, discuss how to reduce comp-time accumulation from extended work weeks, and explore whether in-house rebuilds or overlays are the more cost-effective strategy. Several commissioners agreed to schedule a working session and requested more detailed, precinct-level cost and mileage data.
The court did not take direct budget action at the meeting; other agenda items proceeded after the presentation. The Road & Bridge director offered to provide follow-up materials and invited commissioners to visit the department's operations.
