Bucks drawing up stimulus wish list

From the BCCT.

Bucks drawing up stimulus wish list
The county will be ready to submit so-called “shovel ready” projects as soon as President Obama signs an economic recovery plan.
By JENNA PORTNOY

Last week, county officials held a brainstorming session to explore what projects could be eligible for federal stimulus funds.

“Without further guidance I don’t think we can go beyond the county’s capital projects that are already on the books,” said Planning Director Lynn Bush. “We’re trying to stay on top of it as best we can.”

That means wading through the speculation to identify projects already in the planning stages. For example, federal dollars could buoy construction of the justice center and garage in Doylestown, repair or replace county bridges and upgrade emergency responders’ technology, she said.

Commissioner Jim Cawley added to the list a possible jail expansion, preservation of historical properties and nonbricks-and-mortar improvements, like upgrades to human services, which make up about half of the county’s $468 million budget.

Asked if affordable housing for the county’s low to moderate income residents would make the cut, Cawley said he’s open to any and all ideas: “It really comes down to where we can spend the dollars,” he said. “We will have a list and work very hard to try to have worthy projects.”

Commissioner Charley Martin said the county is unlikely to take a leadership role with municipalities, which have their own projects to push.

“If you start to prioritize municipal projects and put Bensalem ahead of Bristol or Quakertown over Doylestown, you run into, ‘How’d you come up with that?’ ”

Chief Operating Office Dave Sanko said it’s too early to identify specific projects “because the guidelines are still fairly nebulous.” County officials have, however, already met with Congressman Patrick Murphy’s staff to talk about the recovery package, he said.

The county, which will keep the tax rate flat this year for the third consecutive year, will likely have to compete for dollars with cities and states facing huge deficits. Gov. Ed Rendell has said the state shortfall could amount to be as much as $1.9 billion and Philadelphia’s five-year budget woes amount to another billion dollars.

But will the stimulus approach work?

“I honestly don’t know,” Cawley said. “We know one road — give billions to the market and see what happens — we know that road doesn’t lead anywhere.”

The administration reportedly wants to use the second half of the $700 billion bailout to put pressure on financial institutions to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and once again begin to extend credit to individuals and businesses.

Early talk of an economic recovery bill working its way through Congress describes a two-year, $825 billion plan to address priorities Obama outlined in his campaign, such as alternative energy, lower taxes for most and modernized schools. Roughly $30 billion could be devoted to road and bridge repairs.

“Make sure that the dollars get into the pockets of the people who work the hardest and they will give you an honest day’s work for an honest day’s labor,” Cawley said.

Democrats hope to deliver a stimulus package to Obama’s desk by mid-February.