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Committee member says county cannot maintain all roads with current funds, cites $2M for 3.2 miles as example
Summary
A committee member told the Cochise County Flood Control District that his district has roughly 1,400 roads but funding allows maintenance of about 400; he said a 3.2-mile project would cost more than $2 million and urged pursuit of sustainable economic development to fund infrastructure.
During the July 28 Cochise County Flood Control District meeting, a committee member described road-maintenance shortfalls in his district and linked the problem to limited county funds and broader economic-development needs.
"In my district, I have 1,400 roads, and I can only maintain with what we get from HEERF funds 400," the committee member said, adding that when he examined a 3.2-mile project it "was gonna be over $2,000,000," funds that would reduce the maintenance available for other roads. He said constituents repeatedly ask for jobs and economic growth but cautioned that development must be "sustainable" to avoid stressing water and road resources.
The committee member argued the county relies on state and gasoline-tax revenue, not local property taxes, for road maintenance and said additional revenue or development strategies are needed to fund repairs without raising sales taxes. The exchange included brief, informal remarks about pecans and taxes before the board proceeded to its vote on the consent agenda.
