"$8 million to purchase and demolish Regency Mall to stimulate redevelopment in the area," What a waste! Better off just dropping the $ from a helicopter.
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.
THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S PROPOSED USES OF FUNDS FROM THE NEXT PENNY SALES TAX INCLUDE:
- $18 million for Municipal Building renovations, down from a previously listed figure of $31.5 million. (This would pay for renovations so more offices could be moved in after the courts are moved to the new judicial center, Mr. Russell said.)
- $18 million for the Webster Detention Center, down from a previous figure of $42 million, and $6 million for a sheriff's office administration building, down from $7 million
- $11 million to replenish the reserve fund and pay interest on a loan from the $10 million given to Medical College of Georgia to buy the Gilbert Manor public housing project
- $10 million to replace aging fire department vehicles and $7 million for new cars for the sheriff's, marshal's and coroner's offices
- $8.5 million for Augusta Regional Airport and $2 million for Daniel Field
- $8 million to purchase and demolish Regency Mall to stimulate redevelopment in the area
- $6 million for the cities of Hephzibah and Blythe
- $4 million to dredge Lake Olmstead, down from a previous figure of $5.7 million
- $1 million for new books and audio/visual equipment for the new library
CUTS INCLUDE
- $204.3 million in road and drainage improvements
- $78.4 million for parks and recreation
- $21.8 million in traffic engineering projects
- $20 million for the Reynolds Street trade, exhibit and event center and $15 million for a parking deck
- $12.4 million for a new wing to the Augusta Museum of History
Source: City Administrator Fred Russell's recommended SPLOST list
Comments
"$8 million to purchase and demolish Regency Mall to stimulate redevelopment in the area," What a waste! Better off just dropping the $ from a helicopter.
cut $204.3 million in road and drainage improvements,what are these people doing cutting this much money from our already torn up streets. unreal,cut 78.4 million for parks and recreation, putting new drug dealers on the street.
Asking taxpayers to pay for demolishing Regency Mall is an outright gift (gratuity in legal parlance) to the property owner. It would be illegal under Georgia law. Fred (What, me worry?) Russell has gone too far this time. There is no plan for the property. $8 million would not purchase the property and also demolish it, so, presumably the $8 million is for demolition only.
darling may have a point. Who is going to develop anything over the next few years? While this needs to be done, it could wait.
Why don't they post the report on spent and unspent funds from past SPLOST projects so that we ALL can see it?
As usual the clowns at city hall are up to their antics. I think all this proposal of tax cuts,etc. could have at least waited untill April fools day as it seems to fit the occasion more. FRED the town crier will never in my mind come up with anything that makes sense. REGENCY Mall demolation, yea FRED add that to your long list if crackpot ideas. How much did the city spend to clean up the property behind the depot so the developer that never developed could begin. MORE and more of our hard earned tax money is in the hands of elected officials that don't have a clue whats good for Disgusta.
Clean house and get some people that know how to save the laughing stock of Georgia before its too late.
I am glad to see that renovating the Miller is more important than the road in front of my house! Next cut how about funding what the city owns. This means quit funding the PRIVATE ORGANIZAIONS which are run by the influential, for the influential and composed of the influential. As i see it if the non-profits are so needed in the city, they would be popular and self supporting.
BTW A.C. Every item listed in your article was either a facility or an organization. Maybe next time you could ask what the money for the facility or organization would be used for. The reason I say this is located at the city web site, under law dept there is a link to the CITY CODE. If you look at that document ( I know it hasn't been updated in a while) you will see the organization and mission of the DDA and that all funding is REIMBURSEABLE. They are there to prepare bonding for projects. Now I ask what purpose the SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) has to do with their mission?
People, Regency mall???????????? What's the demolition cost 50 or 60 million?
If this makes it into the SPLOST package its DOA!
I hope they buy smaller cars for the police department, marshalls office, and administrative services. The gas savings and the maintenance savings will save a lot of money. I'm sure the smaller cars cost less than the V-8 sedans do.
Joe, I agree with you.
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