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Florence council lays out roadwork priorities, eyes $15.5M in 2027 projects and targeted borrowing
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Summary
Council reviewed a 10-year transportation CIP funded in part by a voter-approved 1.5% tax increase, prioritized safety and connectivity projects (Adamsville, Plant Road, Butte Avenue bridge) and discussed borrowing, grant pursuit and design timing for projects totaling roughly $15.55 million in 2027.
Florence'Town staff and council members outlined a prioritized list of transportation projects on March 30 as the town seeks to convert voter-approved sales-tax revenue into shovel-ready work.
Public works director Andy Smith framed the funding challenge and rationale: construction costs and inflation have eroded purchasing power and the town needs to use the recently approved sales-tax designation (referred to in staff materials as 1.5%) to leverage grant opportunities and partnerships. "This 1% designated tax will help us to facilitate these projects," he said while describing how the town would combine local TPT, DIF and other funds to pursue federal and state matching funds.
Town engineer Lindsey walked the council through the ten-year project map and a 2027 list that staff budgeted at about $15,550,000, detailing design and construction timing. Key near-term projects include the Main Street extension (design by Dibble; design to 30% with finish targeted April 2027), Hunt Highway rehabilitation (pavement preservation planned to begin in July, with the road to remain open), Hunt Highway widening in coordination with Pinal County, Plant Road public-private partnership (P3) design, and a Butte Avenue bridge rehabilitation budgeted at about $3,150,000 with a $1,000,000 grant already obtained.
Council members emphasized public-safety and access priorities when weighing project sequencing. Several members urged moving Adamsville Road (T124) and a Centennial/Local connector (T48) higher on the list to give neighborhoods better access to town services. "I would love to see Adamsville come back up as a priority in '27," Council member Benzina said.
On financing, town staff described a working assumption of a $15 million loan to accelerate projects and noted the sales-tax stream would be used to repay borrowing; councilors asked staff to confirm whether a larger borrowing envelope (for example $25 million) would be feasible and what impact that would have on cash flow. Finance staff (Carl) cautioned that the P3 for Plant Road—estimated at about $10.3 million—lacked firm private commitments and would affect borrowing needs.
Specific implementation notes: Attaway and Hunt will be completing guardrail and grading work this week and will return after the Country Thunder event to do chip sealing and restriping; Butte Avenue work requires utility coordination and additional relocation steps. Staff were directed to begin design work where feasible, pursue grant funding, and return to council with refined cost breakdowns and potential borrowing scenarios.
What happens next: Staff will proceed with the recommended design steps for prioritized projects, will brief council on borrowing scenarios and grant opportunities, and will seek to move T48 and T124 up in the sequence where funds and design footing allow.
