Johnson County Council on Nov. 10 approved a one‑time adjustment to the property tax levy intended to generate roughly $2.5 million in additional revenue for 2026, on top of a $3 million baseline, to reestablish and seed the county’s cumulative bridge fund.

Highway Supervisor Luke Masten told the council the fund will not have cash until the first round of 2026 tax settlements in June and recommended a one‑time infusion or levy adjustment so bridge projects can continue if state changes to SB 1 reduce revenue. "That extra cash balance in that bridge fund would allow those projects to continue moving forward rather than having to stop those, which we would not want to do," Masten said.

Council members questioned alternative figures and asked county financial staff for scenarios. Masten said the county is considering conservative interim borrowing — an estimated $1 million loan — to cover payroll and invoices in early 2026, to be repaid when tax receipts arrive in June.

After discussion the council approved a motion to set a one‑time levy adjustment intended to produce the additional approximately $2.5 million (bringing a 2026 target toward $5.5 million). The vote was taken by voice and the motion passed.

On the temporary loan, council members expressed a preference to borrow from the county’s rainy day fund rather than the general fund and directed staff to prepare the necessary resolution or ordinance language for the January meeting. "We'll have, like, a resolution or ordinance with all this... I just need to know if you guys wanna do it from... make the loan from general fund or rainy day," Masten said; members signaled consensus for rainy day borrowing.

The action is intended to restart multi‑year bridge work and to create clearer separation of bridge and general fund expenses; staff will return with formal paperwork and financial scenarios for council review.