Douglas County voters soon could be asked to vote on another multimillion-dollar bond issue — but this time for roads instead of schools.

County commissioners say they want to consider floating a list of potentially dozens of projects for voters to approve or reject, based on the area’s transportation needs during the next 10 years.

The list would be akin to the state’s own highway program, but with a twist: Instead of being eligible to be raided by state legislators looking for a quick budget fix — as occurred this year at the Statehouse in Topeka — the county’s fund would be mandated by law to be used for the planned projects.

“It forces a big-picture approach, which is good,” Commissioner Charles Jones said. “And it would take away the temptation from future commissions to take that money and use it for other purposes.”

The concept surfaced Monday morning, as commissioners reviewed a list of six construction projects recommended for addition to the county’s $3.9 million Capital Improvement Program for 2004.

Bob Johnson, commission chairman, suggested looking even farther ahead — into the next 10, 20 or 50 years — to see how the county could secure financing for transportation projects.

County officials could conduct public meetings and accept suggestions for projects, then round them up into a single plan that would be taken to the voters, Johnson said. The public then would decide if the lineup was worth it, instead of commissioners reviewing and shifting priorities each year.

“You have to be able to make the case to the public that these projects are needed,” Johnson said. “Obviously, if you didn’t make that case, you either don’t do anything or you figure out another way. If you don’t agree to spend the money, you either don’t improve the road or you close the bridge.”

Commissioners said they liked the idea of a bond issue, but asked administrators to figure out how such a plan would work, if at all. While they did not set a deadline for the proposal, commissioners indicated they would like to mull the possibilities as they prepare to approve their 2004 budget this summer.

Commissioners did agree to set aside money for two projects this year:

l Replace the bridge on County Road 438 (Kasold Drive) over the Kansas Turnpike. The project, estimated to cost the county $195,235, would take advantage of federal grant funds funneled through the city of Lawrence and money from the Kansas Turnpike Authority, which wants to widen the turnpike from four to six lanes.

l Replace the surface of County Road 1057, from County Road 442 to Kansas Highway 10. The project would cost the county an estimated $241,025, and shore up the road for heavy trucks traveling to and from the East Hills Business Park and accommodate growing traffic from Eudora.