Citizens concerned for city infrastructure and pension funding vs. building complex

To the editor:

City Hall’s Mid-Summer Surprise

How many of you read the Monday, July 27th front page article entitled, “City Considers Police and Fire Facility Options”? If you did, we bet most of you were surprised to learn that the City was pursuing such a major initiative, and especially in these troubled economic times. The need for a new safety complex is not legitimized in any approved City of Lincoln planning document. However, the City appears to be pursuing this project with gusto. The study you were reading about has already cost us taxpayers $30,000. Further, the City has earmarked another $70,000 for phase two design work. The study consultant estimates the cost for such a facility to be 12.7 million in today’s dollars! If that doesn’t get your attention, add debt service, as well as maintenance, staffing, and equipment to that cost. Now, that adds up to serious money!

Several of us recently learned from the City Administrator, Clay Johnson, that the City will not be required to subject this pricey project to citizen’s scrutiny through a public referendum, as one would expect for such a major undertaking. Further, no public hearing is scheduled to air it. We think the City should welcome this community’s input, especially given the enormous tax implications. How can the City of Lincoln’s existing budget be stretched thin enough to accommodate a new 12.7 million dollar safety facility, and meaningfully address truly pressing community needs, without tax hikes?

Although pursuing a new safety complex eventually may have merit, we have yet to talk with anyone in Lincoln who thinks building it at this time is more important than two other higher-priority and competing needs.

Specifically, as we all know, our City’s dilapidated streets, alleys, sidewalks, and sewers need immediate attention. Also, we think most would agree that fully funding our police and fire pension funds, as mandated by state law, is more important.

So, there you have the current state of affairs as we see it. And, as always, doing nothing, and hoping for the best, is an option. However, doing so may be a very expensive proposition for Lincoln taxpayers. If we choose to sit on our hands, we need to make sure one is covering our wallet to fend off those who would lighten it. However, if you are concerned as we are, and wish to engage in the discussion, we suggest you contact your ward aldermen to voice your opinion. (You can obtain their telephone numbers by calling City Hall at 217-732-6318) You can encourage the City to conduct a referendum and a public hearing(s) to ascertain community support for a new safety facility at this time. If our pleas fall on deaf ears, and the City insists on moving ahead with this project, then a grass-roots petition demanding a referendum may be inevitable.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. The “ball is now in your court,” and time is of the essence!

Carolyn and Jim Reynolds
Lincoln
 

[Posted September  2, 2015]