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Public Works warns of funding gap as Monmouth Township reimbursements end; lists multimillion‑dollar unfunded road projects
Summary
Kurt, Shawnee County public works director, said the department faces the dual challenge of rising material and equipment costs and the loss of about $660,000 in reimbursements from Monmouth Township for 2027. He outlined unfunded priorities including a $5.5M Southeast 45th Street segment, ~$12M for 2046th Street, and a $13M Auburn Road package with roundabouts.
Kurt, director of Shawnee County Public Works, told commissioners the non‑salary portion of his department's budget is at its lowest share since 2017 and that the office faces a significant revenue shortfall in 2027 because about $660,000 in Monmouth Township reimbursements will end. He asked for increased general‑fund support to cover maintenance and capital needs.
Kurt said the non‑salary budget is roughly 41% of the department's total now, down from roughly 53% in 2017, and that he is requesting an increase aimed at covering higher materials and equipment costs as well as diminishing reliance on vacancy savings. "Monmouth Township related revenues of approximately $666,000 is no longer available to Shawnee County Public Works," he said.
He outlined multiple unfunded capital projects: Southeast 45th Street construction estimated at about $5.5 million (project largely designed but unfunded); a project labeled "2046th Street" anticipated around $12 million; and Auburn Road improvements including recommended roundabouts at Southwest 37th and Southwest 33rd with an estimated total project cost of about $13 million. He also cited specific maintenance needs such as a Croco Road pavement removal and replacement estimated at $900,000–$1,000,000 and culvert replacements requiring bundled contracting.
Kurt attributed cost pressures to rising material prices (hot‑mix asphalt up from about $43.10/ton to $76.75/ton since 2021), constrained suppliers, rising oil‑index costs, and limited local contractors. He said improvements to signing, culverts and striping will drive higher expenditures going forward.
Commissioners asked about reallocating positions tied to Monmouth Township work and alternative project prioritization (for example, comparing Auburn Road segments). Kurt said some positions have been eliminated as township work ended and that he prefers to advance projects in one‑mile increments moving south on Auburn Road. He also said the department budgets overtime for maintenance crews and that a CDL training program has produced employees who stayed on staff.
Kurt recommended denying any midyear request from Monmouth Township to resume maintenance without a formal recommendation to the board based on cost and readiness. He also said federal‑to‑state infrastructure exchanges will likely fluctuate but not spike dramatically in the near term.
Next steps: commissioners will weigh the public works funding request during budget deliberations; specific project funding would require future appropriation decisions.
