BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Jefferson County officials were shocked today after being told that only 10 miles of county roads have been paved this year. The county maintains at least 1,101 miles of roads.

"That is totally unacceptable," Commissioner Jimmie Stephens said. "The citizens deserve better than what they're getting and this commission demands more."

Stephens asked Roads Director Traci Pate, who was recently given a $28,000 a year pay raise, how many miles of roads have been paved this year. After a pause, Pate told commissioners during today's committee meeting, "ten."

"This is a tremendous problem and it's the greatest problem we face right now," Stephens said. "If we lose our infrastructure, we will lose our ability to attract economic development and make it attractive for people to come to Jefferson County."

County officials were told at the start of the year that between 120-200 miles of road would be paved, Stephens said, only to find out today that the figure was 10.

Commission President David Carrington said the only solution "in the interim is a temporary paving contract. We have the monies available, we have the staff available, we have the equipment available . . . we need to do a quick request for proposal," he said.

County Manager Tony Petelos said the county's financial problems have led to a roads department with less than half the employees of several years ago and a budget that has been reduced from $38 million to about $18 million.

Knight said he was not concerned "about what was, I'm talking about what we're going to do now," he said.