Ada County Highway District commissioners will take up the proposed $89.2 million spending plan for 2013 at their Wednesday meeting beginning at 6 p.m. at ACHD, 3775 Adams St. in Garden City.
For the fourth year running, commissioners will consider a hold-the-line budget that avoids increasing the amount of property taxes collected.
Commissioners are set to forgo the three-percent increase in the property tax rate allowed by law, as well as the increase permitted for growth (newly improved properties) on the tax roll. As a result, the total amount of property tax proposed to be collected is $31.7 million — the same amount collected in 2009, 2010 and 2011, according to ACHD.
“Again, we’ve been able to balance the transportation needs of the county with the desire to keep taxes low in this slow economy,” said ACHD President Rebecca Arnold in a press release. “We think this is a practical proposal that will keep the signals timed and the potholes filled while allowing the most needed road and intersection improvements to be built."
The proposed budget is a 3 percent increase over this year's budget.
Property taxes represent the largest revenue source for ACHD, followed by state gas taxes ($20 million), impact fees ($9 million) and vehicle registration fees ($8.8 million).
About 47 percent of the proposed 2013 budget is for capital projects.
Major projects slated for 2013:
Boise
30th Street extension from Fairview Avenue to State Street: $4.3 million to complete construction of a new road with four travel lanes, a roundabout, sidewalks and bike lanes alongside the Esther Simplot and whitewater parks. The total project is estimated to cost nearly $9.2 million.
Pierce Park Lane, State Street to Hill Road: $1.44 million to build sidewalks and asphalt pathways along the road to improve pedestrian safety near Pierce Park Elementary School and Castle Hills Park.
Maple Grove and Franklin roads intersection: $295,000 to rebuild the intersection with dual left-turn lanes on the Maple Grove approaches and to build right-turn lanes on the north- and eastbound approaches for improved traffic flow and safety.
Boise Avenue, Holcomb to Eckert roads: $280,000 to begin the installation of curb, gutter, sidewalk and bike lanes on the south side of Boise between Holcomb and Bergeson Street, and on both sides of Boise between Bergeson and Eckert to improve safety and connectivity. Another $745,000 is slated to be spent on the project in 2014.
Meridian
Split corridor, phase two: $6.1 million to begin the expansion and rerouting of Meridian Road and Main Street from Franklin Road to Cherry Lane. The two-year, $7.7 million construction project will finish in 2014.
Franklin Road, Ten Mile to Linder roads: $2.95 million to widen the road to five lanes with curb, gutter and sidewalk to relieve traffic congestion and to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Eagle
Idaho 44 and Linder Road intersection: $2.36 million to wider the intersection to seven lanes on the Linder portions of the crossroad and to modify the signal to improve traffic flow in partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department, which is improving the east-west highway.
Garden City
36th Street, Chinden Boulevard to Waterfront: $770,000 to rebuild the roadway and install curb, gutter, sidewalk and parking pockets to improve safety and connectivity near the 36th Street pedestrian bridge and the Boise River Greenbelt.
Star
Main Street south of Idaho 44: $45,000 to start a $495,000 project to build sidewalks on the street with curb and gutter in some locations to improve safety and connectivity to the Star Riverwalk. The project will finish in 2014.
Countywide
$3.5 million to build 37 sidewalk, pathway, bike lane and other projects to promote pedestrian and bicycle safety across Ada County.
The 2013 budget also includes a proposed ACHD commissioner salary increase of 2.5 percent to $20,736 annually.
The public can view the budget online and send in comments in advance of the Commission’s formal consideration of the spending plan. A printed copy is available for review at ACHD’s main office.
