Mahoning County's engineer's office is preparing its fleet for winter road maintenance while monitoring diesel prices that could squeeze next year's construction budget.
Engineer Pat Ginnetti said his office has a legal duty to clear roads when conditions require it, which leaves little room to trim. Because of that obligation, he said, setting a budget for a new year calls for caution — when fuel grows more expensive, spending must come down in other areas. That could translate into fewer dollars for work beyond snow-and-ice response.
Fuel is not the only input tied to petroleum. Ginnetti said the pipe and asphalt the county buys for road projects are petroleum-based products, so their costs move with fuel markets. He warned that substantially higher prices would change how the county drafts its 2027 paving schedule.
The fleet has already seen heavier use this year. According to Ginnetti, crews spent weeks traveling between cleanup locations after a tornado on July 5, adding mileage during a stretch when fuel was already expensive. He called the timing of high prices and heavy demand especially difficult.
Ahead of winter, the county faces a balancing act: keeping trucks ready to answer calls while protecting funds for road work planned in 2027.