06/24/2026
I would like to take a moment to clarify a few points regarding county funding. County funding operates on a one-month lag, meaning the figures I am about to provide reflect May collections. For May, the three county districts combined received a total of $269,476.57. This amount is divided equally among the districts, with each receiving $89,825.52. From this allocation, funds are dedicated to personal services (payroll), lease payments for equipment, travel expenses for commissioner training, and the remainder is allocated to Maintenance and Operation (M&O) to cover district expenses for the month. On average, each district was able to allocate approximately $11,000 to M&O, which covers expenses such as fuel, materials, and equipment repairs,ect. Given the recent tornadoes and flooding, the districts have incurred significant additional expenses, here are a few examples from just this morning, and trust me there is way more to come $5,156.61 for tin horns (more needed) and $10,000 for gravel, (more needed) as well as $23,850.00 for 7500 gallons of diesel fuel. It is worth noting that land taxes do not contribute to road funding; instead, road funding is derived from a fuel tax distributed based on road miles in the county. While the districts have other potential funding sources, these are very minimal and limited. In light of the challenges posed by disasters and the need for fiscal prudence, I request understanding and patience. The volatility of funding creates a cycle of challenges, particularly given the districts' inability to build substantial reserves. A more substantial and prioritized funding plan at the state level would greatly benefit counties. Despite these challenges, each district is working diligently to repair roads, and we are grateful that no lives were lost in the recent disasters.