Document text
Medford budget: Finish top road projects by '03 Also includes money for better road striping By JESSICA SMITH Seven of Medford's most-talked-about road projects would be completed by 2003 under the city's first two-year spending plan. A draft of Medford's inaugural biennial budget puts spending at about $185 million for 2001-03, and sets aside some $7.7 million for road construction projects. City budget meetings An 18-member committee of number-crunchers will take a look at the city's first two-year spending plan in five meetings this spring: Monday: Budget overview, public hearing on state revenue sharing, review spending proposal from information services department. May 7: Review spending proposals from public works and planning departments. May 14: Review spending proposals from community promotions department, including the Visitors and Convention Bureau, as well as the police, fire, parks and building safety departments. May 16: Review report on social services grants to local agencies and spending proposals for city administration, mayor and City Council. May 21: Make final budget recommendation to the City Council. Each budget meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. The City Council is expected to consider the spending plan June 7. An 18-member group of citizens and city leaders will review budget requests in a series of meetings that begin Monday. The budget earmarks $1.7 million for the extension of Garfield Street, one of the more hotly contested road projects in Medford. The City Council last year approved the project over objections from the neighborhood. Residents argued the project would increase traffic in the area and put pedestrians at risk, but city leaders said that extending Garfield would provide an important link from Holly Street to Highway 99. Another $6 million is pledged to a half-dozen projects tagged by city leaders three years ago as "high priorities." In addition to road improvements, Medford residents may notice better markings on city streets if the biennial budget is adopted as proposed. Of 13 new employees that would be hired in the next two years under the draft budget, a couple will work to stripe roads for the public works department. "People are always complaining about the striping," said Cory Crebbin, public works director. "What we really need is full-time employees and full-time employees who do it well." Public works plans to hire seven new employees by 2003, including a projects supervisor, a mechanic and several workers in the storm drain and sewer divisions. The city also will hire an assistant attorney, a parks supervisor, a planner and a couple of office workers. Estimated salaries for the 13 employees will cost $1.18 million in the 2001-03 biennium. City spending, however, is expected to decrease 12 percent over the next two years. Expenditures for 2000-01 are estimated at $93.9 million, while the draft budget puts spending at $88.7 million in 2001-02 and drops it to $82.8 million the following year. According to Jef Faw, finance director, fewer construction projects contributed to a leaner budget. But a $3.4 million gap between city revenues and operating costs also required departments to tighten their belts, Faw said. Higher public employee retirement costs and a "tremendous run-up" in health insurance expenses are to blame, he added. In addition, because of the state's property tax limitations, Faw expects the city to collect only about 3 percent more in property taxes in 2001-02 and 2002-03. The city's permanent tax rate is $5.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $530 in taxes per year. Though there's about $14 million set aside in the budget as "unappropriated" funds, Faw said the city is prohibited from using the money to meet operating costs. "That would be kind of like robbing your retirement account to balance the budget," he said. "You could do that, but you'd be mortgaging your future." Other budget highlights include: Planned remodels of two Medford fire stations - $56,000 Acquisition of the Heitkamp property for a sports park in south Medford - $5.49 million Construction of the Bear Creek Greenway from Barnett Road to South Stage Road - $86,000 City Hall renovations - $3.96 million The draft budget is the city's first attempt at a biennial financial plan, which officials say will help with long-range planning. Though the city can't legally adopt a two-year budget, Medford is allowed to approve a biennial budget plan. Formal adoption would be required at the start of the second fiscal year. Reach reporter Jessica Smith at 776-4481, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.