City Planners Urge Bonding

General obligation bond issues totaling $9.4 million are being recommended for the coming fiscal year by the city's Planning Commission. The recommended bond issues would include $4.3 million for road improvements, $2.1 million for dam repair and storm sewer construction, and $3 million for parks. City Administrator Guy C. Larcom Jr., in his budget message to City Council, had also recommended three bond issues, but instead of roads he had included construction of a public safety building. The council met with the Planning Department staff and other department heads last night in another of its work sessions on the proposed budget for next fiscal year. Road bonds as recommended by the Planning Commission would cover the Eisenhower Parkway (Maple Rd. extended) at a cost of $1.5 million, completion of the Huron Parkway from Nixon Rd. to M-14 ($800,000), the realignment of Plymouth Rd. ($450,000), part of the necessary work on the Fuller penetrator route ($900,000), and $650,000 to cover the deficiencies now existing from the last roads bond issue needed to complete the Packard-Beakes bypass and Forest-Observatory. The $2.1 million "flood control" bond issue would include $1.7 million to repair the city's dams on the Huron River and $400,000 for storm sewer relief work. Parks bonds have not been adopted as to detail as yet, but would include funds for both land acquisition and development. If the City Council decides to place any or all of these bond issues before the electorate this would probably not be done until this fall. Another issue which doubtless will appear on a ballot this year is the income tax, a matter which has been an overriding concern on the part of Democrats during the budget sessions. Again, as in prior budget sessions, questions last night centered on what could be done if more funds were available, and what programs had to be dropped because of the tight financial situation. Wayne H. Abbott, head of the city's Utilities (water) Department, commented last night that projects which at one time were self-financed from surplus cash can no longer be done on this basis because there is now no surplus. This situation could delay the extensión of water to a given location for upwards of a year whereas in the past it could be done within three months, Abbott said. One of the items mentioned by Abbott as being a factor in reducing surpluses is the overhead payments now going into the general fund budget. He said this overhead used to be $60,000 but was increased by some $100,000 last year and is proposed for another $20,000 increase during the next fiscal year. Commenting on this and other "user" fees, City troller Lauren J. Jedele said he does not endorse the concept. He termed user fees as "unstable and dangerous" sources of revenue upon which to depend. Abbott said one of the major tasks being undertaken by his department is an attempt to resolve low pressure problems in the Geddes area, including installation of mains and a pumping station. He commented that although complaints in the area have increased the pressure last year was higher than in the two previous years. Parks Department Supt. George Owers commented that his department has outlined park needs costing more than $6 roillior. over the next seven to eight year period, but said the Planning Commission has scaled this down to about one-half. Questioned by Mayor Robert J. Harris, Owers said there are about $253,000 worth of projects unfinanced for the coming fiscal year. These projects would be included in the bond issue. Owers said these projects had not originally been planned for a bond issue but that funds are not available to carry thcm through. Owers also said funds for the shade tree program have been steadily cut over the past few years. He said $25,000 was the normal amount spent for shade trees in past years but that this had dwindled to $10,000. Taking inflation into consideration, Harris said, this spending should be at the $30,000 level. Also, Owers reported the airport will need some $300,000 of city funds in the coming years with $24,000 needed in July to pay for land which is to be acquired for the airport's expansión program. This $24,000 is not included in the budget. "You mean we'Il have to take it out of contingency," Harris asked, noting thal the contingency fund totals only $71,000 for next year. "Yes," said Owers. "That will be interesting," Harris replied. Fredrick A. Mammal, head of the Public Works Department, was questioned about what programs are being cut back because of lack of funds. He said if more revenue was available he would construct more storm sewers and more sanitary relief sewers. "We could probably spend a million dollars on just five items," he said. Harris said that to keep pace on road repairs the Public Works Department budgpt for this item should have increased some 10 per cení for fiscal 1970-71. When told the increase was only 1V2 per cent Harris said "either the department is getting tremendously efficiënt or we won't keep up with repairs." Another item referred to by Harris as not being financed in the coming fiscal year is sidewalks. He commented that when sidewalks must be built in areas outside the city the taxpayers must bear the cost or the walks won't be constructed. Sidewalks inside the city limits are normally paid for by the affected property owners.