Capital Improvements

[MattD]

Hello All-

The number 1 priority issue that I will be bringing to the table is the Western Wake Waste Water Facility.

This will be a $50 to $90 million dollar commitment that is required due to an agreement that allowed Cary to bring in 40% more water from Jordan. This is something the town NEEDS to be ready for when the bill comes due.

Does anyone else have comments regarding this issue?

[Don]

Matt,
correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the figure budgeted for is around 112 million? I believe the first payments of 11-12 million start nexct year with a REALLY BIG HIT of 50 million due in 2008. Yes this is very important.

[johnb]

It's important all right.

It's right below the Gateway project, the doggie park, and the aquatics palace on that priorities list for our city council critters.

[Wuptdo]

Hiya Folks,

On Monday afternoon, Karen and I, got togather to prepare for our meeting on Thursday. Several items came up that would like to share with the group.

Capital Improvements Page

1) Transportation CIP - Comment, coordinate better long term planning on road projects and improvement. For instance, several years ago Weston Parkway was repaved. About a year later, either water or gas lines were run along Weston Parkway. Now Weston Parkway is once again in need of re-paving.

2) Fire CIP - Did they buy the "Education Trailer?" Was it really necessary?

3) Park & Rec CIP - Item P, US 1/64 Pedestrain Crossing (bridge); Status? Why? Road Improvement?
Item H, Open Space Acquisition; How much was actually spent in 2003? Cut back spending in this category.
Item O, Tryon Road Crossing; Status? What is this? A bridge? A Tunnel?
Why here? Road Improvement?

4) General Government CIP -

Item A, Alternative Fueling Feasiblity Study/Station; Why? Many national studies already done?
Item C, Park Street Culvert Replacemnt; Status & Why? Road Improvement?
Item D, TCAP - Streetscape Improvements? Status & Why? Where is the money in the budget for overall constuction of the Town Center?
Item E, Temporary Disposal/Open Space Land; Status & Why?
Item F, Yard Waste/Transfer/Recycling Facility; Status? Is this new facility or upgrades to existing facility?

5) Utility Fund Expenses by Function:

Under Other/Contingency; In FY2002, $11,097,034 (Actual), in FY2003 $13,479,355 (actual), in FY2004, $873,961 (budget). There was a 93.5% difference from FY2003 and FY2004. Special note: Includes $11.2 million for open space projects in FY2002, $13.5 million for annexation projects in FY2003, and $1 million for open space projects in FY2004.
Questions? Why were not these large budget items but as separate line items. Why were these items under Utility fund, especially open space? Where is the million dollars for Open Space in FY2004? What exactly is "General Fund Reimbursement" and how is it different from "Debt Service?"

6) Graphs on overall Debt: Do these graphs, especially projected debt, reflect $130 millon road bond and $30 million Park & Rec Bond. What is the project price of the new Waste Water Treatment Facility? Is there a graph or chart that factors in these items. Just because a bond was passed, does it mean we have to spend it? How much more debt can Cary maintain and still keep its AAA bond rating (without raising taxes)?

7) We concluded it would be nice to be able to see what the "actuals" for FY2004 are currently at. that way, if some big expenses that haven't been purchased yet, they can either be canceled or moved into the next fiscal year. We also thought it would be nice to see where large budget
items or trust fund money that was moved around, and where it went.

Is this the type of input the group wants on this site? Any thoughts, questions, comments?

Thank you,

Karen & Mike

Pardon the format, but I did this on notepad and pasted over.

[Brent]

Hiya Folks,

On Monday afternoon, Karen and I, got togather to prepare for our meeting on Thursday. Several items came up that would like to share with the group.

Capital Improvements Page

Mike & Karen,

This is the kind of concrete analysis that should really help focus the discussion. Thank you!

Comments on a few items (these may not accurately represent facts in all cases!).


1) Transportation CIP - Comment, coordinate better long term planning on road projects and improvement. For instance, several years ago Weston Parkway was repaved. About a year later, either water or gas lines were run along Weston Parkway. Now Weston Parkway is once again in need of re-paving.

I think this was the infamous "gray water" piping. Agreed, this was bad planning.


3) Park & Rec CIP - Item P, US 1/64 Pedestrain Crossing (bridge); Status? Why? Road Improvement?

I think I have heard talk that this is for pedestrian safety. It is good if people will actually use it (studies show that often bridges and tunnels are NOT used).


5) Utility Fund Expenses by Function:

Under Other/Contingency; In FY2002, $11,097,034 (Actual), in FY2003 $13,479,355 (actual), in FY2004, $873,961 (budget). There was a 93.5% difference from FY2003 and FY2004. Special note: Includes $11.2 million for open space projects in FY2002, $13.5 million for annexation projects in FY2003, and $1 million for open space projects in FY2004.
Questions? Why were not these large budget items but as separate line items. Why were these items under Utility fund, especially open space? Where is the million dollars for Open Space in FY2004? What exactly is "General Fund Reimbursement" and how is it different from "Debt Service?"

The utility fund is supposed to be a self-supporting, zero-sum kind of thing. You have highlighted several good points. We already had a general principle within the group that we don't support inter-fund transfers.


7) We concluded it would be nice to be able to see what the "actuals" for FY2004 are currently at. that way, if some big expenses that haven't been purchased yet, they can either be canceled or moved into the next fiscal year. We also thought it would be nice to see where large budget
items or trust fund money that was moved around, and where it went.

We have this item (getting FY 2004 actuals and FY 2005 budget as soon as we possibly can] on our list of things to accomplish.

[quote="Wuptdo"]Is this the type of input the group wants on this site? Any thoughts, questions, comments?[/quote

In my opinion, absolutely!

[Don]

Hiya Folks,

2) Fire CIP - Did they buy the "Education Trailer?" Was it really necessary?

Not sure if they bought it or built it, but IMHO, Education of fire safety and prevention is necessary. Isn't fire, police, etc.. some of governments basic functions?


3) Park & Rec CIP - Item P, US 1/64 Pedestrain Crossing (bridge); Status? Why? Road Improvement?
Item H, Open Space Acquisition; How much was actually spent in 2003? Cut back spending in this category.
Item O, Tryon Road Crossing; Status? What is this? A bridge? A Tunnel?
Why here? Road Improvement?

Wasn't one of these the bridge to get to Kids together park?


Item D, TCAP - Streetscape Improvements? Status & Why? Where is the money in the budget for overall constuction of the Town Center?

I believe $100,000 is budgeted for next year for "planning" and $250,000 budgeted the next year for streetscape improvments? Other than that, no other funding for TCAP that I know of except the park and land aquisition.


5) Utility Fund Expenses by Function:

Under Other/Contingency; In FY2002, $11,097,034 (Actual), in FY2003 $13,479,355 (actual), in FY2004, $873,961 (budget). There was a 93.5% difference from FY2003 and FY2004. Special note: Includes $11.2 million for open space projects in FY2002, $13.5 million for annexation projects in FY2003, and $1 million for open space projects in FY2004.
Questions? Why were not these large budget items but as separate line items. Why were these items under Utility fund, especially open space? Where is the million dollars for Open Space in FY2004? What exactly is "General Fund Reimbursement" and how is it different from "Debt Service?"

You are paying for the open space aquisition Wup. It is on your water bill I believe. Since more open space leads to better water quality, the utility fund can pay for it since it has to do with water. Or so some say anyways.

[Karen]

Just a quick "thank you" to Wup for posting our info. :D

Karen

[Don]

Karen and Wup,
thanks for both of your efforts, everyone coming prepared will surely be beneficial.

[Cathy]

Mike & Karen,
Thanks for taking a hard look at the CIP and laying out some very good points and questions. This is what the discussion needs to move things along in the right direction.

As my husband and I were looking over the budget previously, Mike commented to me that it looked like the Utilities were very profitable and that the Town was using the fund like their ATM machine instead of keeping the money for needed utility projects.

We noticed the footnote on a previous budget section page titled Utility Fund Expenses by Function. It noted the 11.2M & the 1M withdrawal for Open Space and the 13.5M for the forced annexation costs and we had questions about it.
1. Were there specific transactions/aquisitions and what were they?
2. Was the money a loan to be paid back?
3. Was it a cash transaction or were capitol dollars involved?

Any one have the answers or could someone on Staff provide them?

Cathy

[Wuptdo]

Wuptdo wrote:
Hiya Folks,

2) Fire CIP - Did they buy the "Education Trailer?" Was it really necessary?


Not sure if they bought it or built it, but IMHO, Education of fire safety and prevention is necessary. Isn't fire, police, etc.. some of governments basic functions?



Don, Our thought process on this was something like this. Everykid (school or cub scout, brownies, etc.) loves to go to the local Firehouse and ring the bells and run though the trucks. Where my kids go to school, the local Fire Company (Morrisville) comes out any time a teacher make a request for fire education. We thought the kids would find the "safety van" boring. The downside to having the fireman come out is that my kids comes home "covered" in mud; they were practising Stop, Drop & Rolls. :wink:

Mike B-)