Comments on: To Build or Not to Build; To Tax or Not to Tax

By: TreesRock

TreesRock — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:28:58 +0000

I disagree, I feel now is the time to spend money, we have to bust out of this funk in some way and until people are willing to take calculated risks the economy will not change. It goes to the old adage, buy low, sell high. The economy is low now, so we should buy. If we spend now it helps people get employed and creates a more positive environment all in more competitive environment to obtain competitive bids. This is important even on the local level. I feel the same about the GM project that fell through. I am not advocating irresponsible spending, but calculated spending that creates jobs and value for the future!

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:42:48 +0000

Thanks Judd, this is helpful. I’ve been looking through the City of Decatur site and there is lots of good info on bond/capital projects. I don’t see, and it may be my poor searching skills, a city employee in charge of capital projects. Do you, or anyone on DM. know how the capital projects budget process works? I’m curious who determines when the City needs a capital improvement, who solicits the bids, and who reviews the various bids before they are presented for approval to the commissioners.

By: Marshall

Marshall — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:23:02 +0000

No new spending on big projects and no new taxes until the economic enviroment is a little more certain!

Given how WRONG the city was about how much it was going to cost the first time around, I am hesitant to give them another blank check.

By: Judd

Judd — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:21:44 +0000

For a little context: In 2006 voters supported a $33 million dollar 30-year bond, with roughly half going to the City and half to CSD. The City’s portion was to fund a long list of projects including renovating Glenlake Park, the McCoy pool, streetscaping, sidewalks, new signage, and renovating Fire Station #2 — all which were done, plus some of the biggest items, which were not done: renovating fire station #1, the rec center, a joint (with CSD) public works facility, and the cemetery. Renovating the police station was not part of the bond, but is also on the city wish list.

As it turns out, the City grossly underestimated, even as recently as a 2008 bond update before the City Commission, what could be done with the $16.5 million it borrowed. During a recent public survey, the idea was floated of a new bond, larger than the last at, I think, around $18 million, to fund what was supposed to have been funded by the first bond, plus renovating the police station. The estimated price tag for the public works facility (now a new plan) and the rec center has almost doubled — from $7.8 million to 14 million — since the bond update in 2008.

Given this history, given the current economic downturn, given the slew of new agenda items and priorities bound to arise from the 10-year planning sessions, given that City spending already takes up by far the largest chunk (double CSD’s share) of the tax differential between Decatur and unincorporated DeKalb, the current proposals need very careful oversight by the City Commission and the public.

By: Decatur taxpayer

Decatur taxpayer — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:11:44 +0000

No matter what, building needs to wait until the economic climate improves. If the city doesn’t have the money, the taxpayers don’t either.