LEWISTON — Councilors should vote on their $63 million wish list of projects for the next five years at their next regular meeting.
The plan calls for an estimated $12 million in spending for the 2015-16 fiscal year, from city, school, water and sewer district bonds as well as general budgets.
“What is being proposed is similar to what we’ve seen in the past,” City Administrator Ed Barrett said Monday.
Barrett said he expects members of the Planning Board and the Finance Committee will issue their reports on the proposed Capital Improvements plan next week. Councilors are scheduled to vote on the plan at their Feb. 17 meeting.
Councilors hosted a public hearing of the plan at Tuesday’s meeting, but no members of the public attended. The plan is online at www.lewistonmaine.gov, under the financial reports section.
The plan calls for setting aside $350,000 this year for Lewiston’s share of a new parking lot at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. Auburn would also be responsible for $350,000.
The cities would also split the $2 million cost of replacing radios for the Twin Cities’ Lewiston-Auburn 911 Communication Center.
Public works projects include paving along Lisbon Street; $1.1 million in work on River Road, south of Lincoln Street; $931,000 in work on Main Street; $500,000 earmarked for Riverfront Island improvements; and $1.8 million worth of equipment replacements in Lewiston’s garages.
The plan also calls for $4.4 million in work at Lewiston’s schools, including $3.2 million in state funding to build a new school.
The plan is a to-do list of city purchases. It can be adjusted, pushing some projects or purchases back. Staff uses the plan to assess council priorities and help build the fiscal year 2015-16 budget.
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