The Augusta Commission heard a long line of entreaties Thursday as it compiles a project list for the next special-purpose sales tax vote.

Commissioners didn't have to give answers right away.

"We have a monumental task in front of us," Commissioner Alvin Mason said. "And I wish we could approve all these projects, but unfortunately that's not the case."

City Administrator Fred Russell is recommending the SPLOST 6 package total around $160 million so it can be collected in four years. The working list totaled $641.2 million last week, and Mr. Russell said he's already pared down $563.6 million in infrastructure projects to the $180 million to $185 million range.

Another $77.6 million had been requested by outside agencies such as development authorities, museums, arts groups and other nonprofits. Fifteen of them made pitches to commissioners Thursday.

Imperial Theatre Executive Director Charles Scavullo asked for $2.2 million for a new heating and air conditioning system, $300,000 for roofing and waterproofing, $65,000 for a new fire curtain and $50,000 to replace fire escapes that aren't up to code.

The Augusta Symphony withdrew an earlier request for $24.8 million for a theatre district project and instead asked for $12 million to restore the Miller Theatre and $2 million for Augusta Mini Theatre. A previous request from Augusta Landmarks Inc., sought $9 million for the Miller, which symphony President-elect Joe Huff said owner Peter Knox will donate.

Augusta Museum of History Director Nancy Glaser showed a musical slide presentation with James Brown's I Got You (I Feel Good) and Papa's Got a Brand New Bag playing to photos of his exhibit. Ms. Glaser asked for $12.4 million toward a $16 million building wing that would showcase such Augusta-rooted figures as author Erskine Caldwell, golfer Larry Mize, opera singer Jessye Norman, gospel singer Amy Grant, actress Butterfly McQueen and former Chicago Bears lineman William "The Refrigerator" Perry.

Historic Augusta asked for $214,000 for interior and exterior renovations to the Woodrow Wilson and Joseph R. Lamar boyhood homes, including installing a replica of the iron fence where the future President Wilson stood when he heard news that Abraham Lincoln had been elected.

Looking over the list after the meeting, Commissioner Corey Johnson struggled to say which projects should be denied. Considering the state of the economy, perhaps the Miller Theatre or a $6.5 million request from Paine College for a community health building could go, he said.

"I think all of them have a meaningful purpose," Mr. Johnson said. "It's very difficult."

Mr. Mason sternly told Mr. Russell on Thursday that, before he makes a decision, he wants a full accounting report on expenditures and progress made on past SPLOST projects. He said he wants to know which projects haven't started, which are stalled, which are duplicated on the SPLOST 6 list, which went over budget and who the contractors were, and what funds have been diverted and whether the commission approved it.

Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.