The ability to undertake a slew of needed projects could be one benefit of a consolidated government in Columbia County, commissioners say.

A preliminary list, recently compiled by county commissioners, details 36 projects classified as "staff proposed'' and 18 considered "staff optional.'' Of those projects, there are some that focus on stormwater issues, road improvements and recreation enhancements.

Mr. Cross says consolidation of Columbia County's government with a new city encompassing the Evans/Martinez area would provide franchise fees that would pay for a $30 million or $35 million bond, either of which could fund needed work without a millage increase.

"We really want to do something we can fund without a tax increase,'' Mr. Cross said. "There's still an option that we would put some projects on there, additional projects, that would be covered by a one-mill tax increase, but we haven't decided that yet.''

Mr. Cross said the bond issue is something that could go before voters in a referendum as early as July, the same time voters also might be asked about consolidation and incorporation, if the Legislature deems such a vote should occur.

"They'd be tied in together,'' he said. "It would be a two-pronged deal that we'd have the incorporation/consolidation vote and we'd also have a second vote that would say we would take the franchise fees and apply them to the debt service for a $30 or $35 million bond.''

Among the draft list of tentative projects that commissioners already have discussed are 24 transportation improvements, including a William Few Parkway connector to Hardy McManus Road, an intersection improvement at Furys Ferry and North Belair roads, three sidewalks near schools, resurfacing various roads and paving four dirt roads.

There are 14 stormwater-related projects, including Springlakes Phase II, William Few drainage improvements, a Wynngate stream bank stabilization and a Little Kiokee Creek Regional Retention Pond.

The most expensive project on the list is an Evans Town Center Park development and park facility, at $2.8 million.

County waterworks Director Billy Clayton said stormwater is a top concern for the county and a bond issue would greatly help.

"I would say everything on that list (stormwater related) pretty much kind of carries equal importance in so much that they're way overdue,'' Mr. Clayton said. "... The county really hadn't invested that much money into their stormwater systems in the years gone by, and we've just grown up to the size where we can no longer afford to ignore some of these issues because it's definitely having an impact on folks.''

Mr. Cross said now that commissioners have approved the idea of incorporation and consolidation, they'll wait to see whether the state Legislature agrees to send the idea to a referendum. At that point, Mr. Cross said, the commission could vote to pursue the bond issue and determine the exact projects it would pay for.

If the bond issue were to fail in a referendum or if the consolidation idea failed, Mr. Cross said, commissioners would face another decision.

"If everything failed, say we voted in July, then we would have to decide whether to send it back to the voters to do the same thing with a tax increase,'' he said, adding that such a vote couldn't occur again until November 2006.

Reach Preston Sparks at 868-1222, ext. 115, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.