Public works director warns cutting paving funds could reverse recent gains

The committee debated whether to reduce the recurring citywide paving allocation to reduce near-term bond pressure. Director of Public Works Lisa Foto told the committee the paving program remains behind schedule and that cutting the proposed amount could be harmful: "We were we became so far behind in our paving program that we had to bond Right. $7,000,000 for 10 years...We probably need more like 5 or 6. So if we don't appropriate that amount of money, what concerns me is we're not going to have the maintenance that we need..."

Committee members asked for more information about roads that require full reclamation and cautioned that rolling back paving appropriations could create inequity complaints from residents whose streets are delayed. Staff and the director proposed a phased approach: continue some level of bonding while gradually growing operating budget funding so the city does not 'shock' service levels or force drastic cuts in future years. The group asked staff to provide a prioritized list of roads at risk and to model outcomes under different funding scenarios.