Posted: 7/16/03

Broadway Ave. remains part of county bonding plan

Needs in the Forest Lake area could receive funding under a long-term capital improvement plan now in place in Washington County. The plan includes funding for CR-2 (Broadway) and a North Service Center and library.

At its July 8 meeting, the board continued a public hearing originally conducted on May 20 and June 24 to consider the countyís draft capital improvement plan and the sale of general obligation bonds to finance certain portions of the CIP.

The Washington County CIP is a schedule of improvements, new facilities, special projects, and equipment needs for the years 2003-2007. Projects programmed for funding are based on urgency and the ability to finance.

The CIP covers a five-year period, the first year conforming with the budget.

Each year, the CIP plan is updated and extended one year to reflect changing conditions, circumstances, and needs. The CIP sets forth the schedule, timing, estimated cost, sources of funding to pay for the improvement, and specific details of each capital improvement project.

1st year projects

Projects in the first year total $20,751,700, which is greater than the 2003 adopted capital budget of $18,251,700.

The adopted 2003-2007 CIP totals $208,227,300 and reflects the countyís intent to issue up to $25 million in bonded debt for projects included in the 2003-2007 CIP.

The issuance of bonds is slated to occur in 2003, 2007, and 2009.

Projects proposed for the 2003 bond issue include:

ïDesign of CR-2 (W. Broadway Ave.) in Forest Lake ó $500,000.

ïA southwest parking lot addition at the government center in Stillwater ó $1.6 million.

ïA second-story addition to the Law Enforcement Center ó$5.3 million.

ïA North Service Center Library ó $5.2 million.

ïAcquisition of land for North and South Service Centers ó $1 million.

ïService Center and design ó $7.6 million.

ïDesign for the expansion of the District Court ó $1.8 million

ïAcquisition of park land ó $2 million

2007 bond issue

Projects proposed for the 2007 bond issue include:

ïConstruction of CR-2 (Broadway) in Forest Lake ó $16.5 million.

ïDistrict Court expansion ó $33.2 million.

ïGovernment Center remodeling ó $5.8 million

ïA southwest parking lot addition at the Government Center ó $1 million

ïAcquisition of park land ó$4.6 million.

ïDevelopment of a new beach area at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park ó $1.7 million.

2009 projects

Projects proposed for the 2009 bond issue include:

ïService Center and Design ó $5.4 million.

ïMetro-wide radio system ó $6 million.

ïValley Creek Road Jurisdictional Transfer, Woodbury, $9.9 million

ïTH-244 Jurisdictional Transfer, (Mahtomedi) ó $6.2 million

Following the close of the public hearing, the county board voted to adopt the 2003-2007 CIP and to submit the necessary documents to the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development for its approval to issue new debt for these projects.

Once the bonds are issued, the 2003 budget will be amended to reflect these additions.

Prior to the action, Washington Countyís debt per capita ratio was the lowest when compared to the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Olmsted and St. Louis. Following the July 1 action, the countyís debt per capita will increase by $121 (for a total of $269).

ìThe countyís debt per capita is still amongst the lowest,î said Molly OíRourke, deputy administrator. ìThe county board continues to maintain conservative fiscal policies while meeting the demand for services from a growing population.î

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