Higher diesel and gasoline prices push Winnebago County to raise motor‑fuel line in draft highway budget

High fuel prices are a key cost pressure in the highway department's 2027 draft budget. The Highway Commissioner told the committee that the department typically budgets about $800,000 for fuel but has "bumped that up to about 900,000" in next year's draft to address recent price spikes.

The commissioner noted recent purchases where diesel exceeded $5 per gallon and unleaded approached $4 per gallon and said sustained high prices could increase construction and maintenance costs across projects. Committee members asked how the budget models fuel usage and the department said it uses seasonal patterns and five‑year trends to estimate consumption and exposure.