The city is responsible for paying 5%, or $3.09 million (whichever is less) for project expense
Many anticipate the pending Burlington-Winooski bridge revitalization. But a timeframe remains unpredictable as the project is held at a standstill. Recent city council discussions raise concerns over financing.
During the April 1 city council meeting, Jon Rauscher, Winooski’s public works director, introduced revisions to the funding of the Burlington-Winooski Bridge project. The Winooski City Council first saw this financing agreement during the Nov. 6th, 2023 city council meeting. City staff and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) worked together to bring necessary updates to the agreement before approval.
Representatives of VTrans, Robert Klinefelter and Carolyn Cota, attended the meeting remotely, weighing in on the discussion.
Two highlighted updates specified how city costs will be impacted as VTrans and the city attorney coordinated changes in wording. The revisions detailed how the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approaches cleaning and disposing of contaminated soil. If the cleanup of contaminated substances is needed, it will affect environmental costs. The FHWA could help cover these costs if the project completes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. There was also revised language regarding Winooski’s maximum cost liability, or the financial cap the city must pay. The city is responsible for paying 5%, or $3,087,312.50, (whichever is less) for participating project expenses.
Winooski City Council moved to an executive session to continue the conversation of financial details. Upon returning to a public meeting, the council expressed a concern dating back from its previous discussion.
Mayor Lott expressed worries about how the terms of this financial agreement may impact existing legal agreements with the Winooski Hotel Group.
VTrans representatives were aiming for the contract to be approved that evening. However, Winooski City Council asked for the agreement to be revisited at a later date after additional coordination with city staff. There was no vote for approval.
The council and VTrans will continue their discussion of the agreement on April 15th.
Local Judith Lance spoke on another developmental project, questioning the ongoing construction in Lot 7D, a previously vacant city-owned area. Her concerns derived from a recently published article in The Winooski News.
Proposals to develop a hotel, parking structure, and office space within Lot 7D were approved in 2019. However, the timeline for the project was extended due to COVID-19-related complications.
After reassessment, Nedde Real Estate aims to finish the construction of long-term rental housing accompanied by a rooftop restaurant in the spring of 2025.
“What is going to be owned by the city? What is going to be owned by somebody else?” Lance asked.
Lance suggested the usefulness of a lay summary for Winooski residents who are interested in the costs and benefits of this project like herself. In response, Lott will work with city staff to share the requested information within the next mayor’s update.
After 35 years living in Winooski, Lance is retired and hoping her social security payments assist her with the tax rate increases she’s witnessed in recent years. She finds it important to attend city council meetings, often voicing her concerns in public comment. Lance believes that Winooski residents should educate themselves on the developmental matters of the city.
“A lot of people just are not aware – they’re not aware – of a lot that’s going on. It all affects what we have to pay in property taxes in the city,” Lance said.
Jonah Frangiosa reported this story on assignment from The Winooski News. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.
Categories: Local government, Transportation
Re: ”Winooski City worried about property tax hike from new Winooski bridge” ????
Is this cautionary tale for real? Winooski just passed a $31,970,907 school budget for approximately 764 students. That’s $41,846 per student. And now they’re worried that ponying up $3.08 million for a $70 Million bridge is going to raise property taxes?
“Estimated to cost $60 million to $80 million, the project to tear down and replace the bridge would largely be paid for with federal funding, including a $24.8 Million grant, with state and municipal contributions making up the difference.” – February 15, 2024, 5:01 pm VTDigger
The Winooski school budget increased $6.5 Million, from $25.5 Million to $32 Million, in one year. At least Winooski gets a $70 Million bridge for this additional $3.08 million investment. Compare that with what they get by spending almost $42 thousand to educate a single kindergartner.
I wonder whose water intern Jonah Frangiosa is carrying.
Just wow, $42k each!? Their students must be the best-educated in the nation. They are…. right?
As has been noted before, Jon, Winooski’s cost per student is likely to be significantly weighted by ELL students (English Language Learners) that are, through Act 127, allocated more than two times the financial resources of English-speaking students. And I suspect further that we don’t have to speculate about where these ELL students are coming from, or understand that this is just the beginning of the increased costs about to be dropped on Vermont taxpayers in the near future.
And don’t forget. Today, parents can send their children to VT State University for a full year of standard undergraduate college courses for just $22,600. And that includes college room and board.
So where is all of the money going? To the 37,000 VT public school staff and the non-profit NGO social service workers who traffic the ELL kids. It seems to be the fastest growing segment of Vermont’s workforce.
No problem, just don’t build it……. Keep Winooski to itself, apparently, they have fools running their city’s finances………………….
they must keep the debt and bonding moving forward in the u. s. and vermont/// we are headed for some very interesting times///
Have UVM pay for it.