City Administrator Fred Russell gave Augusta commissioners his short list of special-purpose sales tax projects Wednesday, whittling $641.2 million in requests down to a package of $185.3 million.

His proposal would save the Miller Theatre, raze Regency Mall, dredge Lake Olmstead and replace aging police cars and fire trucks. It funds $31.2 million in road and drainage projects, $10.5 million for parks and recreation and $8.8 million for upgrades to traffic signals and street lighting.

Mr. Russell previously said he wanted the upcoming SPLOST package, which could go before voters in a special election in June, to total around $160 million and be collected in four years, as was the case with the last penny sales tax that started in 2006 and ends in 2010.

"I'm not uncomfortable with $185 million," which would take four and a half to five years to collect, Mr. Russell said. "Realistically, we can handle $185 million and manage it."

The list remains fluid, as the final decision will be made by commissioners.

"Is it a perfect list of everything that needs to be done? No way," Mr. Russell told them.

Of 15 outside agencies seeking funds, including authorities and nonprofits, Mr. Russell accommodated five, rejecting requests by Paine College, Historic Augusta and the Jessye Norman School of Arts.

Under his plan, the Augusta Canal Authority would get $4.2 million, the Downtown Development Authority and Richmond County Development Authority would get $1.2 million each and the Imperial Theatre would get $1 million.

The Augusta Symphony had asked for $12 million to restore the Miller Theatre and $2 million for the Augusta Mini Theatre. Mr. Russell's list gives the symphony $6 million for the Miller.

Mike Deas, of Friends of the Miller, said owner Peter Knox has estimated that $5.6 million would restore the theatre to its former state. The other $6.4 million was for renovations to accommodate the symphony, to whom Mr. Knox is donating the theatre.

"Six million will definitely get us on the road," Mr. Deas said.

Commissioners expressed frustration that the state Department of Transportation has cut back on matching funds, meaning SPLOST dollars for roads won't go as far.

Mr. Russell suggested projects that don't make the sales tax package be put on a wish list for President-elect Obama's proposed public works program. Commissioner Betty Beard said that, with so many people outside the city commuting in, maybe River Watch Parkway and the new St. Sebastian Way could be toll roads, with money collected through a quarter of a cent per dollar payroll deduction on non-Richmond County residents who work in Augusta.

Also Wednesday, Mr. Russell gave Commissioner Alvin Mason a report he requested last week on spent and unspent funds from past SPLOST projects, which Mr. Mason said he needed before making decisions about the next tax. Mr. Mason also wanted to know what funds were diverted and whether the commission approved it, and he said he's disappointed that the report doesn't appear to show that.

"Now I gotta' go study it," he said. "There's a lot there."

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