When Summit County’s road and bridge department presented a “wish list” 2026 budget proposal Aug. 19 to the Board of County Commissioners, the board and staff discussed the funding challenges it would pose.

Finance director David Reynolds suggested ways the county could find more money for the department, like an increase in road and bridge’s share of property taxes or reallocation of lodging tax revenue, the latter of which he said would require voter approval.

The commissioners will have special meetings Wednesday, Sept. 3, to discuss the lodging tax reallocation idea. A special work session slated for 9:30 a.m. has one agenda item — discussion of lodging tax.

A special meeting at 9:45 a.m. will have a public hearing for a resolution that would put a measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot to add repair of county roads as a use for lodging tax revenue.

The measure would not increase lodging taxes or impose any new taxes, the agenda states.

Adrienne Saia Isaac, the Summit County government communications director, wrote in an email that road and bridge funding has “been at the forefront of conversations for some time now.”

“We must address properly funding that department while being respectful of how taxpayers want their money spent,” Isaac wrote. “Hence, the ballot initiative.”

Isaac added that the meeting is taking place on a Wednesday instead of being part of a regular Tuesday meeting because of scheduled absences.