It was a daunting task from the start.
When City Council members started their in-depth review of the city’s Capital Improvement Projects in September, they were given a 334-page list of projects still on the books.
Lori Boyer, chair of the group, said one of the goals has been to cut that list at least in half. They’re reaching that result after a review that’s closed projects already completed or wiped out ones deemed not necessary or too expensive. Some stretch back as far as 20 years.
She said that through it all has been one inquiry: How much money is needed for the CIP every year to keep the city running?
Along the way, they’ve identified at least $50 million that can be used for projects. Almost $12 million for fair-share sectors, which would apply toward road and infrastructure improvements. Another $8 million for specific fair-share projects. And $10 million for roads.
Granted, that money is not recurring and heavily restricted in its use. It’s not general fund money — it can’t be used for everyday services, a point council member Bill Gulliford wanted to make clear Monday.
But it can prevent having to borrow money, Boyer said.
It also shows a deeper problem that’s persisted over the years.
“To have as many discrepancies as we have is not acceptable,” said Boyer, “and it’s not what our taxpayers deserve.”
The problem began in administrations before Mayor Alvin Brown’s, Boyer said, but it has “deepened significantly” over the past several years. Part of that, she believes, can be attributed to staffing cuts and an overall lack of resources.
Even so, she said that given the problem and the unused money, it would have been irresponsible for the city to borrow $230 million in last year’s budget as Brown sought to do.
The “consequences of borrowing and not spending” means debt builds and gets pushed back years.
The group has met just about every week since September. It did again Monday to go over more accounts and iron out any discrepancies.
The group is trying to finish its work soon, but still has some hurdles to clear such as finalizing the list of necessary projects within each council district.
Once all the accounts are on solid footing, legislation can be filed to re-appropriate and properly spend the money that’s been identified and collected. Some bills, such as one dealing with stormwater reallocations, already has been filed.
The group Monday also confirmed the Downtown Historic Preservation Trust Fund has about $5.2 million in it.
The Downtown Investment Authority can use those funds as an incentive for developers seeking to redevelop an urban core. The DIA will recommend the Bostwick Building and 120 E. Forsyth St. projects dip into the historic money, said DIA CEO Aundra Wallace.
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