To the Public Works and Transportation Department (PWTD), the issue is
simple. “Our Visa card’s at its limit, and even though our lawn mower, oven,
and fridge are broken down, we don’t have the cash to pay for them,” complains
acting director Matt Kite. So the sixth-largest city department is asking for a
raise from each utility ratepayer this coming fiscal year – a transportation
fee increase of 49cents a month, resulting in an annual infusion of $2.5
million.
But the increase is a good 33% short of what the department needs to
maintain Austin’s roadways, and it could be just the beginning. In fact, PWTD’s
five-year plan calls for another fee hike in 1997 to bring in another $4.4
million a year, enough to meet all of the department’s road maintenance needs
by the year 2000. That’s another increase of 86cents a month per utility bill,
assuming the number of ratepayers doesn’t change between now and then.
Kite, who is quick to caution, “We’re not saying we’re going to ask for
that [second increase],” nonetheless admits that paying for roadways with the
fee is a more “probable” and cheaper scenario than paying for it with other
revenue sources. Bonds, for instance, would pay only for the “rehabilitation”
of roads, not preventive maintenance, and would be 10 to 30 times more
expensive in the long run.
“I’m saying give me $2 million now, so we don’t have to ask for $20 million
to
$60 million in the future,” says Kite.
Many of Austin’s city councilmembers, however, get their cue for fiscal
prudence from a different source: the taxpayers. Brigid Shea, Max Nofziger, and
Ronney Reynolds have already voiced opposition to this year’s proposed hike,
and Jackie Goodman, who initially supported it, says she’s now questioning it.
The department can expect an even tougher battle with their proposed 1997-98
rate hike.
But the PWTD will likely have to rely on a rate hike nonetheless. They’re
clearly not going to get any more money from the General Fund. Overall, the
department’s allocation from the General Fund has been cut in half since the
Eighties, even though the amount of roadways has gone up by 20%. The downsizing
trend continues this year, as PWTD was forced to lop off $300,000 from last
year’s $11.4 million allocation of general funds, a 3% decrease. Most of the
savings will come through 12 job eliminations, nine of them from the
“re-engineering” of the Capital Improvements Program. Despite the loss, PWTD
expects to complete 80% of its capital projects on time, up from 78% last year.
Two of the other jobs slated for elimination will come from the transportation
division, and the result, says Kite, will be a slowed response time to public
calls for new or repaired
signs or signals, and possibly an increased
danger to motorists and pedestrians. “I’m concerned about the elimination of
those positions,” says Kite. “Right now, it takes us three months to look at
the requests from the public. [If the budget is approved] it will probably take
four and a half months.” Other projects needing fast money from the
depleted general fund allocation:
* Neglected street sign replacement. According to the city’s draft policy
budget, signs have a lifespan of about seven years, and more than half of
Austin’s signs have exceeded this limit. Another 70% of the city’s 17,500 signs
do not meet minimum standards for night visibility. For this coming year, the
city manager was generous; he has proposed a $200,000 allocation to help begin
the process of getting all the city’s signs replaced within the next seven
years.
* The deterioration of road markings, as well as traffic signals. The city
manager has set aside $1.2 million in enhancements to these programs, but
again, it will take years before the programs are up to speed.
“Basically, we’re climbing back, but we’re still $1.1 million short per
year for signs and markings,” says Kite. “Were trying to get back on track with
street maintenance, but we’ll still be $4.4 million short [after next year].
We’re now having to start spending that much money because of all the things
that are coming to bear on the department.”
Council will hold a work session on the PWTD budget on August 30 from
9am-5pm at the Town Lake Center. First reading of the entire budget, at which
point citizens may comment, is scheduled for September 11 at 1pm.
Councilmembers will vote on the budget September 13. – Alex de
Marban
This article appears in August 11 • 1995 and August 11 • 1995 (Cover).