Mayor Jerry Sanders continued his budget tour today with another stop at Balboa Park, this time highlighting his plans to replace the Museum of Man’s roof as part of a budget proposal that will include $38 million in infrastructure repairs.
Sanders said his infrastructure plan, which will be unveiled with the entire budget proposal Friday, would spend:
- $25.5 million to maintain or repair 134 miles of roads, which is 34 miles more than last year’s budget.
- $5.5 million on replacing storm drains consisting of corrugated metal pipe.
- $2 million on replacing roofs at various community centers and libraries around town.
- $1.5 million on an analysis of the condition of city facilities, which would be conducted over 18 months.
- $800,000 on replacing heating and air conditioning systems at several libraries and community centers.
Chief Financial Officer Jay Goldstone said the city will try to borrow on the bond market for about three-fourths of funding it needs for the infrastructure projects. The city has been barred from the public markets since 2004 after inaccuracies were found on its financial disclosures, but Sanders said he expects the city to return to Wall Street in the fall with its financial standing intact.
Also, an addition to Will Carless‘ recap of Day 3 of the budget tour (which focused largely on the pay increase police officers are slated to receive):
Sanders is proposing that the 2008 budget, which takes effect July 1, include money to lease four new police helicopters, fully fund operations at the new Northwestern Division substation, and staff a new fire station in Carmel Valley when it opens later this year.