Subscribe

RSS Feed (xml)

Atlanta officials seek $750M for repairs

Grants, bonds would be funding sources
By ERIC STIRGUS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Atlanta city officials propose using bonds and money from federal and state grants to pay for $750 million in improvements needed on city streets, bridges, sidewalks, vehicles and traffic.

Mayoral adviser David Edwards called the repairs a public safety issue. But he and Public Works Commissioner Joe Basista told Atlanta City Council finance committee members the city needed to find a way to pay for repairs that doesn’t require dipping into the city’s annual operating expenses. The city now faces a $50 million shortfall in its operating funds.

“By allowing your capital to wither on the vine, you are increasing your operating expenses,” Edwards said in an interview.

President-elect Barack Obama has said he plans to give federal funds to the states to improve the nation’s infrastructure and to help boost the economy.Since Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin took office in 2002, the city has spent between $50 million and $60 million a year on capital infrastructure projects, city officials reported Wednesday. City officials say Atlanta should raise that annual total to about $100 million.

The city has 18 bridges that need to be repaired or replaced, work city officials say will cost about $162 million. Another $255 million is needed to pave streets, they said. Atlanta also has 1,818 vehicles and other pieces of equipment in use past their intended replacement dates. Replacing the vehicles could cost another $55 million. About $278 million is needed to replace aging facilities, traffic lights, streetlights and sidewalks.

Council members did not action Wednesday on the proposal. Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation Executive Director Barbara Payne argued a bond issue would be unlikely to win the required approval of city voters. She also questioned the idea of turning to the state and federal government for help, noting they also have budget troubles.

“How can we ask Mom and Dad when they don’t have [the money]?” she asked, adding that the city must better control its own spending.


No comments: