Eyeing bond funding, WilCo commissioners say need for road infrastructure higher than 2019

The court approved forming the committee March 28, after weeks of working around a shortfall in funding from the 2019 road bond program. Commissioners chose to issue $150 million in short-term debt to pay for projects stemming from the 2019 proposal. While officials found funding to complete construction the county committed to, not all of the projects from its secondary list—to be tackled if money was left over—were funded.

While a potential bond package could fund some of the leftover projects from 2019, commissioners anticipate the committee’s list of recommended projects to cost more than the funding the county receives. Precinct 4 County Commissioner Russ Boles said the county has more demands that it did not have four years ago.

“We see where our cities cannot annex property like they have in the past,” he said. “So a section that us and a city had planned on being in a city, isn’t going to be in a city. So some of their roads aren’t going to be paved by the city.”

Boles said more groups are attempting to establish municipal utility districts in areas of the county where officials thought road construction could be delayed.

“We’re being driven to act sooner,” he said. “If we wait, the costs become exponentially higher.”