Johnson County Public Works on Oct. 2 presented the recommended 2026 County Assistance Road System (CARS) expenditures, asking the board to authorize up to $18,781,000 for the program and describing how inflation and construction-cost escalation have reduced the program’s buying power.

Why it matters: The CARS program provides county partnership funding for city roadway maintenance and improvements. Staff told commissioners the program covers flagship city projects across the county and has historically used an 80% rule for funding allocation; rising construction costs and supply-chain pressures mean the same revenue now buys fewer lane miles than it did two decades ago.

Key points: Scott Cardiorgas of Public Works said funding for the 2026 program is drawn from a gas-tax special city–county highway fund: he cited $13,100,000 from that fund and county support tied to 0.343 mills that yields approximately $5,700,000 for a total around $18.8 million. Cardiorgas said the program received project requests totaling about $19.4 million and staff trimmed funding to match available revenues, funding 13 top-priority projects (10 major roadway maintenance, two capacity enhancements and one route enhancement) and leaving four eligible projects unfunded.

Board questions and direction: Commissioners asked staff for clearer presentation of reserve use in the funding model so the board can see how allocations draw down the CARS reserve balance. Staff said the reserve held about $4.2 million in 2025 and is forecast to fall to about $2.5 million in 2026; if current trends continue the program could run a deficit in 2027. Chair and commissioners asked for future reporting to include lane-mile impacts and pavement-condition-index (PCI) data so the board can track the program's effective reach.

Next steps: The CARS funding package will be combined with the stormwater expenditures and brought back to the board for approval at the Oct. 9 business meeting. No formal action was taken at the agenda review.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to prepare additional metrics and to show how reserves factor into the 2026 funding model when the item returns for action.