Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Editorial: Prioritizing city's projects
So many projects, not enough money.
From the RoundTable blog
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Roanoke City Council in the past year has gathered proposals and plans for more capital projects than it can possibly afford. Now, it must set priorities.
Council on Monday began planning which capital projects to fund during the next five years. Many of the debt categories -- those for Roanoke River flood control, curbs and gutters, bridge renovation and school roofs for the coming year -- are already set.
It is the fuzzy category called "parks and recreation" that carries a $7 million budget and the $3 million cash on hand that is at stake for this year. A similar amount is available in 2011, but because of the way the city plans to structure its debt, the next large infusion of funds won't be available until 2013. To a member, council seems committed to putting renovations to the Market Building at the top of the list. It deserves top priority, not only because it is a key asset for downtown but because some aspects of the building -- such as its antiquated plumbing -- are disasters in the waiting.
Since the designs will take about a year, the city most likely will budget $700,000 for design this year, followed by the $6 million in construction in 2011. Tax credits remain a possibility to fund part of the project, and council should explore this, freeing up more money for other capital projects.
Council needs the money to fund the list of other projects being considered: Countryside Golf Course, an Elmwood Park amphitheater, a Washington Park aquatics center. Not on the list -- apparently, it has fallen out of favor by council -- is a recreation center and water park for Fallon Park.
Council plans to continue discussion on June 15 with a goal of finishing the plan in July. The public would do well make its priorities known.
