(SALINA, Kan) — They fixed up roads and saved money, now Saline County officials say their multi-year, multi-million dollar project is a success. It’s all because of what they call the “perfect storm” of budgeting.
"We have about five million dollars more worth of structure than if we would have had those contracts in normal economic times”, says Jerry Fowler, head of the Saline County commission.
Back in 2009 the county was ready to put 17-million dollars of tax payer money to fix bridges and turning dirt roads into paved ones.
The lagging economy hit at the same time and construction labor fees were at dirt cheap. It allowed the county to spend big and build more than they expected.
