THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603130504
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONI WHITT AND MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
If you're looking for a big spurt in city-sponsored construction this year - forget it.
While things are looking up economically for the city, spending on locally initiated capital improvement projects will remain conservative, according to 1996-97 budget figures proposed to the City Council on Tuesday.
The budget includes $3.9 million in continued funding for the new I.C. Norcom High School. The school's total cost of $37.8 million is being spread over several years. .
The budget also reflects the city's Vision 2005 economic development plan. It includes $3.7 million for construction of a new inlet and ferry dock at the foot of High Street.
Technically, the proposed capital improvement budget totals $28 million, which is about a 50 percent increase over this year's $18.6 million capital spending plan. But the amount includes $12.4 million in federally mandated improvements to a water-treatment plant.
However, money for improvements at the water-treatment plant will come from a public-utility revenue bond, not from tax-supported general obligation bonds, said Robert Creecy, Portsmouth's director of management and legislative affairs.
Here are some other highlights in the proposed capital budget:
$800,000 for the federally mandated replacement of six city-owned underground fuel tanks and building a vehicle-wash facility to prevent environmental run-off at the public works compound. The money will also be used to phase out the landfill adjacent to Craney Island, as part of a state mandate.
$990,000 for neighborhood street, sewer and drainage improvements in Brighton and South Portsmouth, and street work in Simonsdale and North Truxtun.
About $1 million in assorted projects., including design work for expansion of the Children's Museum and a new fire-police headquarters, proposed near Washington Park.
About $2.5 million in federally funded development activities in Park View, Prentis Place, Midtown and Hattonsville, and with the Crawford Project and the Tidewater Community College Visual Arts Center. MEMO: The Portsmouth City Council and the Planning Commission will hold a
hearing on the proposed capital improvement budget at 7 p.m. on March 26
in council chambers.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH CITY BUDGET by CNB