Road & Bridge director warns 'Money' needed as rising material costs squeeze county budgets

County Road & Bridge leadership told the Harrison County Commissioners Court on April 22 that rising material costs and understaffing have left the department short of funds for routine maintenance and planned construction.

“Money,” Road & Bridge presenter Benson said bluntly while outlining the department’s needs, summing up what she described as the simple but unpopular solution to the shortfall. Benson presented figures showing road‑oil and paving expenditures of $294,889.85 through 110 workdays in the reporting period and estimated the maintenance materials line would need $557,606.40 for FY25. She also said the department’s construction budget needs could reach roughly $1,858,688 based on current averages and expenditures, while allocations granted so far covered a fraction of the request.

Benson told the court that oil/dirt costs have climbed from about $59/ton to $90/ton since 2013 — an increase she called a 53% rise — and highlighted that salary compression has made it difficult to recruit and retain crews. Commissioners asked about federal grant opportunities and whether the county could pursue RAISE or similar funding, and Benson said she is exploring options and working with grant consultants. Judge Sims and other commissioners emphasized willingness to revisit budget lines and invited Road & Bridge to return with specific requests if materials or labor projections require mid-year adjustments.

The presentation prompted requests for a workshop to review distribution of materials and workload across precincts; several commissioners asked for more granular data on miles rebuilt in-house versus contracted work and urged a coordinated budget planning session before the formal budget cycle.