Road and Bridge Director Brad (first name provided in the workshop) told the Commissioners Court the department’s proposed budget increases largely reflect higher materials prices and a planned capital replacement cycle. He outlined a multi‑year equipment purchase plan and several road or facility projects for the coming fiscal year.

Why it matters: the office asked for a mix of capital outlays — motor grader, heavy trailers, rollers, an oil distributor and a Vermeer chipper — and said the program should reduce future replacement costs after one full rotation of trade‑ins. "This year should be the last of our higher amounts. The following year, we're probably gonna be just depending on where prices go, but a million, a million 5 is what we'll probably see," Brad said.

Key project and cost details: Brad described increased line items for cold mix and aggregate (around a 10–20% increase to allow for bid rises), a 10% cushion for vehicle insurance and a 20% allowance on some materials. He described a request of roughly $5,000 per solar lighted crosswalk assembly to support two new school crosswalk installations requested by Kerr‑ISD for Ranch Arrow Road: "They're requesting 2. They're gonna be responsible... It's roughly $5,000 for the complete setup." Brad also gave an update on the Cave Springs / Bear Creek reconstruction project, saying the contractor J3 had widened sections and replaced culverts.

Facilities and flood risk: commissioners and staff discussed facility maintenance and risk. Brad noted the department sought funding to build portable covered storage over sea containers to protect equipment from hail and weather damage and to add some fencing and site work at the West Koranax property. Commissioners raised Flat Rock Park and the youth exhibit center as county facilities that have aged surfaces; Brad recommended creating placeholders so projects are not forgotten and suggested phased work rather than attempting all sites at once.

What commissioners asked: several members stressed phasing projects to spread funding and minimize risk, especially for park surfaces that may be periodically flooded. One commissioner asked about flood risk at Flat Rock Park; Brad said the area is low and may be inundated at high river events but that delaying maintenance increases future reconstruction cost.

Ending: the court requested staff-level cost breakdowns and suggested prioritizing smaller, high‑impact items or phased approaches to larger facility projects. No formal budget actions were taken at the workshop.