June 3, 2024 |
Photo – Edinburgh Street in Rawlins – Bigfoot99 file photo
The rate of inflation is outpacing tax revenues and Rawlins officials say Edinburgh Street may be too costly to fix using only 6th Penny money.
When voters authorized the creation of a 6th Penny Special Purpose Tax in 2021, Rawlins identified 10 projects to fund. The list includes rebuilding Airport Road and Walnut, Edinburgh, and Washington Streets as well as making improvements to sidewalk access along Harshman Street. Tax money was also set aside to build a new water pipeline and storage facility at the Rawlins cemetery.
The City of Rawlins asked for $12.1 million to complete the 6th Penny projects. So far, the city has only completed one: reconstructing a section of Walnut Street from 3rd to 7th Street, including water and sanitary sewer improvements. The work was finished in 2021 at a cost of $1.855 million.
At the February 20th Rawlins city council meeting, Councilman Darril Garner asked to expedite the sewer replacement project on Edinburgh Street. Councilman Garner said the road, located on the east side of North Higley Boulevard, is quickly deteriorating.
City Manager Tom Sarvey was tasked with finding out how much money it will cost to repair Edinburgh Street. Speaking at the May 21st Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Sarvey said the 6th Penny Tax fund contains less than half of the money needed to complete the project.
Sarvey said the city collects approximately $1.37 million in 6Th Penny Tax each year. The city manager said it’ll take another two or three years before the city has enough money for the Edinburgh Street project.
Of the $12.1 million of 6th Penny Tax money, Sarvey said fixing Edinburgh Street won’t leave much of that money for the remaining eight projects.
Sarvey said in 2021, when the Edinburgh Street sewer line replacement project was approved, the cost was estimated at $2.3 million. Over the last three years, inflation has caused the price to increase by roughly 365%.
Councilman Chris Weisenburg said a few years ago, the city received an estimate for the Edinburgh Street project in the $5 to $6 million range. Public Works Director Cody Dill said the higher $8.65 million price tag includes repaving the entire road.
The council said the rate of inflation may outpace the amount of 6th Penny Tax money the city receives each year, putting the project permanently out of reach. Mayor Terry Weickum said if necessary, the council can choose to supplement the 6th Penny Tax with money from the city budget.
City Manager Sarvey will present the council with additional funding options during upcoming budget talks.
