Dateline: July 3, 2003

City seeks $2.5 million for streets

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The City of Clarendon began the process last Wednesday of issuing a maximum of $2.5 million in Certificates of Obligation to make street improvements.

Mayor Tex Selvidge thinks the paving project is necessary but says he wants there to be no misunderstanding of what’s happening.

“I think the county was criticized [on the courthouse restoration] because some people thought they were trying to put one over on them, and I’m not,” Selvidge said. “I want the citizens to know exactly what’s going on. I want them to know their taxes will go up to pay off the indebtedness; and I want them to know if they don’t like it, they can petition to stop it.”

The decision to issue C/Os came during a June 25 called session of the Board of Aldermen after months of discussion and after engineer Che Shadle presented a scaled-down paving plan during the June 24 regular meeting. An earlier plan had carried a price tag of nearly $5 million.

Aldermen debated the issue of how much the city could afford before voting 4-1 to set the maximum at $2.5 million. Alderman Michael Tibbets said he wanted a lower figure and voted against the measure.

“I’d like to cap it at $2 million,” Tibbets said, “but I’m not against the streets.”

Tibbets had also long advocated holding a general bond election to fund the paving project but dropped his objection after learning such an election could cause several months of delay.

Paying the indebtedness will cost the city approximately $200,000 per year for 20 years, and aldermen have discussed using a combination of increased water and sewer fees along with ad valorem taxes to pay for the project. City officials said the municipal tax rate – currently at 0.45555 per $100 valuation – would go up but not drastically.

“It is absolutely not going to double,” said City Administrator Sean Pate. “The anticipated increase is between 14¢ and 18¢.”

Such an increase would raise the taxes on a $50,000 home by $90 per year or $7.50 per month. The increase on an average home in Clarendon would be less.

Pate also noted the increases in fees city officials are looking at would still keep the rates lower for Clarendon than those being paid by citizens of most other cities of comparable size.

The plan Shadle presented last week would pave and curb approximately 152 blocks and has the goal of controlling storm water runoff in the east, west, and central parts of town. Aldermen have not made a final decision on exactly which streets will be paved; but when that plan is ready, it will be published.

“Watch the Enterprise for the exact streets to be in the plan,” Selvidge said.

A schedule of proposed fee increases and tax rates will also be published as soon as it becomes available.

Official publication of the city’s notice to issue C/Os will be printed in the July 17 edition of the Enterprise, and that action will start the clock for anyone wishing to petition.

“I’ve requested an actual count of the city voters to determine the number necessary for a petition,” Selvidge said. “If there are enough signatures, then we’ll have an election. I want everyone to have the opportunity to have their say ahead of time.”

Assuming there is no petition or assuming an election failed to stop issuance of the C/Os, the city could have the money in-hand by this fall and be ready to begin construction next spring.