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Liquid fuels funds will go to street overlays; administration says sidewalks remain property owners' responsibility
Summary
The Finance Committee recommended legislation to place approximately $268,550 of unbudgeted liquid fuels money into the city’s street-overlay program after the city received a larger-than-expected 2025 allocation.
The Bethlehem Finance Committee recommended placing legislation on the May 6 council agenda to recognize higher-than-expected liquid fuels revenue and add roughly $268,550 to the city’s street-overlay program.
Administration staff told the committee that when the 2025 budget was prepared they estimated liquid fuels allotments using the prior year’s figures. The city received its 2025 liquid fuels allocation on April 21 and the combination of a larger-than-expected allocation and a higher carryover from 2024 yielded about $268,550 in additional resources. Administration said part of the reason for a larger carryover was a mild winter in a previous year that produced savings in plowing and maintenance.
Council members asked whether the additional money could be redirected to sidewalk repair on Main Street. Councilwoman Callaghan described cracked or missing decorative slate sidewalks on parts of Main, Bridal and Broad streets and urged assistance for affected business owners. Administration replied the liquid fuels fund is restricted to curb‑to‑curb street maintenance and “can’t be utilized for any other purposes like sidewalks,” which are ordinarily the responsibility of property owners. The city does, administration said, provide periodic assistance for small sidewalk repairs.
The administration also pointed committee members to a budget line specifically designated for business-district streetscape work (account 50503 / 42060a in the budget book) that can cover repairs, maintenance and replacement of benches, planters, bollards, tree trimming and “slates” and that staff would check for current balance and potential use.
Committee members asked administration to inspect the downtown sidewalks and to follow up about other beautification items such as planters and painting. Council members said they would forward photographs from site visits to administration staff for review before the summer season.
The committee voted, by voice and roll call, to place appropriate ordinance language on the May 6 council agenda recognizing the revised liquid fuels total and allocating the difference to the overlay program.
