A closer look at how infrastructure dollars are being applied for
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- As the debate on Capitol Hill continues, city managers across the nation will be watching. One major question is how will the stimulus funds be dispersed to local governments for infrastructure projects?
Unfortunately the answers are not easily found. ProNews 7 spoke with several local city managers to see how they are looking at the situation and if they are already applying for funds.
"It's just real hard to get any good solid answers about what's going to be in the package in the event the package comes down the pipe. We've made efforts to see if we could get some solid answers on that and the answers have simply been unavailable," said Randy Criswell, Canyon City Manager.
"A lack of knowledge and information is what we're dealing with, so we're speculating. We're not going to be caught unprepared in the event that those dollars are made available," Criswell added.
The dollars he is referring to is the $150 billion set aside for infrastructure. This money is part of a nearly $790 billion stimulus package that is still being debated in Washington.
Canyon is not alone. Other cities like Portales and Amarillo have looked at applications specifically related to infrastructure projects, like water issues. Amarillo and Canyon have applied with the Texas Water Development Board for funds, in case the TWDB is responsible for dispersing funding to water related infrastructure projects.
Amarillo is looking at nine million dollars for clean water related projects, and another $25 million on drinking water projects. Canyon has plans for a $3.8 million project that will expand some water rights and future water wells.
Portales is looking for a considerable amount, around $10 million to be spread out over five or six different projects -- from a new wastewater treatment plant to expanded recreational facilities. City officials say they have applied to several New Mexico state agencies in hopes that some of these projects will get some stimulus funding.
Some city officials from other Panhandle cities are very skeptical and are waiting to see what funding may be available if any before applying.
For the city of Canyon, staying a step ahead of the game is very important.
"We felt like that we would be prudent to make application for some of those project dollars. They've used the term shovel-ready projects, and we felt like we have several shovel-ready projects, and we felt like it would be prudent for us to at least have our name in the hat, so to speak, in the event that those dollars become available," said Criswell.
One thing is certain as the debate continues and the stimulus is finalized, city managers across the nation and locally will be monitoring very closely.
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