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As anyone who reads this blog may have guessed, the city has been, is and will be facing a budget crisis for the foreseeable future. But come January, we might get a little good news.
Congress and the incoming Obama administration are shaping a possible $500 billion to $600 billion stimulus package that may include money for a veritable cornucopia of local public works projects.
Anticipating a bill, city staff have assembled a comprehensive-looking list of more than 50 projects that could qualify for funds, including a number of road and sidewalk reconstruction projects and improvements for city parks, civic buildings and public housing. In all, the list includes about $67 million in projects.
Some big-ticket items on the list include restoration of the old Carnegie Library ($5.63 million), reconstruction of a portion of Harbor Bay Parkway ($5 million) and improvements to the Harbor Bay dike and seawall ($5 million), demolition and infrastructure improvements for Alameda Landing ($4.75 million) and construction of the Stargell Avenue extension, considered a "must" for moving Alameda Landing forward ($9 million of the $20 million project).
City staff stressed that there's no bill yet, so this is all preliminary. But they are expecting that the to-be-created stimulus bill will resemble a similar package passed by the House of Representatives in the September. That would mean money for projects that create jobs, including transportation, infrastructure and energy efficiency (the city's list includes solar panels for the roof of the main library).
If the bill is written as anticipated, the projects would need to start within 120 days of passage of the stimulus bill and be completed within two years, if I understand the release from the U.S. Conference of Mayors touting such a plan (third one on the press release list). They've got a list of projects from cities across America, by the way; Alameda's list isn't up there but check back in their update on Friday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told USA Today the House will pass a stimulus plan before Barack Obama's inauguration; Congress is set to return to work on January 6.
UPDATE: Lauren Do's got the entire list of items (and a way better headline), right here.
The Alameda Unified School District’s finance chief laid out the impacts of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal for next year, and they are grim. Under the proposal, the district could lose more than $4 million in state funding for the current year and 2009-2010. And that’s not counting the $650,000 it will lose when the new Nea Community Learning Center charter school opens next year, taking an anticipated 250 students off the district’s rolls.
If the governor’s plan were to be enacted, the district could face layoffs and even the loss of five days of the school year, district chief financial officer Tim Rahill said, though it could allow the district to take money out of “categorical” programs – money that is designated for specific programs that can’t be used for any other purpose.
Declining enrollment and increasing costs – Rahill said worker’s compensation costs, for example, will probably rise – will also impact the district’s budget.
“Alameda is facing a state budget crisis. We are facing the opening of a charter school. Also, we’re experiencing declining enrollment,” Rahill said.
He said parcel tax dollars generated by the passage of Measure H could also be used to help cover the cuts, if the board wishes to use those. This year, the district is slated to get $4 million in Measure H tax funds, and it has only budgeted $1.2 million of that.
Schwarzenegger has proposed a number of additional taxes to bridge $31.3 billion in budget shortfalls between the 2007-08 and 2009-10 fiscal years.
The district wants your input on its budget situation. They’ve scheduled budget workshops for February 11 and April 2. We’ll update you when times and locations are available.
If the governor’s plan were to be enacted, the district could face layoffs and even the loss of five days of the school year, district chief financial officer Tim Rahill said, though it could allow the district to take money out of “categorical” programs – money that is designated for specific programs that can’t be used for any other purpose.
Declining enrollment and increasing costs – Rahill said worker’s compensation costs, for example, will probably rise – will also impact the district’s budget.
“Alameda is facing a state budget crisis. We are facing the opening of a charter school. Also, we’re experiencing declining enrollment,” Rahill said.
He said parcel tax dollars generated by the passage of Measure H could also be used to help cover the cuts, if the board wishes to use those. This year, the district is slated to get $4 million in Measure H tax funds, and it has only budgeted $1.2 million of that.
Schwarzenegger has proposed a number of additional taxes to bridge $31.3 billion in budget shortfalls between the 2007-08 and 2009-10 fiscal years.
The district wants your input on its budget situation. They’ve scheduled budget workshops for February 11 and April 2. We’ll update you when times and locations are available.
posted by Michele Ellson at 9:00 AM on Jan 28, 2009
1 Comment:
. . . and don't forget . . . Nancy Pelosi is our Congressmember, too -- not just Pete Stark! :)
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