[Previous entry: "What Happens If SJ Dam Fails?"] [Next entry: "Want To Be A Trustee?"]

10/05/2005: "Public Works Road Budget Approved"

(Todd Roberts, one of three members of the public, speaks to the budget)

The BOCC has approved a "6-Year Transportation Improvement Program" for San Juan County. (Link To Budget) The total estimated cost of the program is just under 14 million dollars, of which just under 4 million dollars is projected for 2006 projects.

The budget is commonly called the Road Budget, but in fact it goes beyond direct road construction. The budget also includes a Marine Access Improvement section ($1,525,000) that addresses docks and barge landings, a so-called Non-Motorized Improvement ($100,000.00) "place-holder" labeled "various projects to be determined", and Drainage Improvement; which started out as $385,000.00, but on the advice of PW Director Jon Shannon that drainage money is readily available from both state and federal grants, and that to use road money for drainage could jeopardize the obtaining of some other state funding for road construction, the amount was shaved of $400,000.00 by the BOCC; which just so happened to be the amount of the projected short fall in the budget.

When it came time for the public access part of the public hearing, things heated up a bit, and as a result of explaining to the three members of the public why the 2006 number was so large, compared to last year, it was explained that the numbers are best guess projections on how much money is, or will be, available, and that the budget is a "living document" subject to changes for any number of reasons. It was also pointed out that the 1.5 million for the "gravel Pit Property Acquisition" (the LaFarge property) is "borrowed money. Commissioner Bob Myhr asked how likely was it that the property would be purchased, and was told that a year ago it seemed certain, but now it may not be so certain. When asked what the projected full cost of the LaFarge project might be if it went forward, the Board was told the estimate at this time is 9 million dollars

Director Shannon also told the Commissioners that they will note some of the budgeted money for specific projects is broken down over more than one year, and that is done because PW simply does not have the money to complete all of the projects that need to be done in one year, so they do part of a project one year, and then come back and work on it again the next year. Shannon said that the BOCC needs to understand that when they cut back a projects funding, sometimes the only way it can be completed is by doing it in stages, but in so doing they are costing the taxpayer 30 per cent more for a project when the Board does not look to the future and fully fund a project.

After a short discussion, the Board approved the proposed 2006 budget, minus the $400.000.00 drainage line item.