Final vote on $74M Asheville referendum; New transit center?

ASHEVILLE - The City Council could give its final approval Tuesday to put a monumental $74 million spending plan before voters.

But before the council votes on whether to advance the Nov. 8 bond referendum, elected officials may make a big choice between a new transit center and sidewalks and greenways.

Residents and others are invited to speak at the last public hearing for each of the three bond issues. The council is then scheduled to vote, the last step required by state law to hold the referendum. Council members are expected to support moving forward, putting the next big decision in the hands of city voters.

Voters would get to choose to support three, two, one or none of the bond issues. They are $32 million for transportation, $25 million for affordable housing and $17 million for parks and recreation. Property taxes would cover the spending. If all bond issues passed, the property tax rate could go up 4.1 cents, equivalent to $82 annually on a $200,000 home.

The ballot language would be such that the city could legally use bond money for a broad range of projects as long as they fall in the correct category of transportation, affordable housing or parks and recreation.

But city officials have given some very specific lists, including which streets and sidewalks would get fixed and built. Even though the council would have leeway on spending, Mayor Esther Manheimer has said the city should stick to the specific plans because of the "expectations from the community."

Now, though, the council will look at adjusting the transportation project list, possibly adding a $1 million remake of the transit center. Other items would be taken out to keep spending the same, Transportation Department Director Ken Putnam said in a memorandum to the council via City Manager Gary Jackson.

"Staff recommends removing one new sidewalk project (Patton Avenue gaps - $616,000) and reducing the funding for greenway connectors, linkages and extensions by $384,000 to make up the $1 million," Putnam said.

City Chief Financial Officer Barbara Whitehorn said whatever gets bumped, either the transit center, sidewalks or greenways, that project or projects would still likely get done, it would just take longer.

If the greenways were removed, for example, "we would likely find another funding source, and it would slow it down," Whitehorn said.

A recent poll commissioned by the city showed that voters supported the transportation and affordable housing issues by 67 percent and parks by 60 percent. Those are very strong numbers that could be brought up to even 80 percent with the right kind of pro-bond campaign, a pollster told business and government officials.

What would $74M buy for Asheville?

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Final bond hearing and vote

The City Council will hold a final vote and a public hearing on whether to put $74 million in bond issues on the Nov. 8 ballot.

The meeting is at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the second floor of City Hall, 70 Court Plaza.

Proposed ballot language:

“SHALL the order authorizing $32,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, extending and improving certain streets, including streets and roads constituting a part of the State highway system or otherwise the responsibility of the State and including the cost of related studies, streetscape and pedestrian improvements, relocation of utilities, plans and design; acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, widening, extending, paving, resurfacing, grading or improving streets, roads, intersections, pedestrian and bicycle paths; acquiring, constructing, reconstructing or improving sidewalks, curbs, gutters, drains, bridges, overpasses, underpasses and grade crossings and providing related landscaping, lighting and traffic controls, signals and markers; acquiring, constructing, extending and improving greenways, providing related landscaping, retaining walls, storm drainage and any other necessary improvements; and the acquisition of land and rights-of-way in land required therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?”

YES or NO

“SHALL the order authorizing $25,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of acquiring, constructing, developing, equipping and furnishing housing projects for the benefit of persons of low income, or moderate income, or low and moderate income, including without limitation loans, grants, interest supplements and other programs of financial assistance to persons of low income, or moderate income, or low and moderate income, and developers of housing for persons of low income, or moderate income, or low and moderate income, and construction of infrastructure improvements related thereto, and the relocation of City facilities to make land available for the construction of housing for persons of low income, or moderate income, or low and moderate income, and the acquisition of land and rights-of-way required therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?”

YES or NO

“SHALL the order authorizing $17,000,000 of bonds plus interest to provide funds to pay the capital costs of infrastructure improvements for various parks and recreation facilities of the City, including the cost of related studies, plans and design, acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, improving, installing or providing storm drainage, grade and surface improvements, construction, reconstruction and improvements of recreation fields; construction, reconstruction and improvements of restroom facilities; sidewalks, bike paths and pedestrian trails; paving, resurfacing, grading or improving parking lots, roads and intersections, providing public open space, landscaping and lighting, and acquiring any necessary equipment, land, interests in land and rights-of-way therefor, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds be approved?”

YES or NO