Rupert presents $3.96 million bond proposal to taxpayers

RUPERT, Idaho -- About three dozen Rupert citizens questioned Rupert officials Monday about the city's proposed $3.96 million general obligation bond for infrastructure that will be put before city voters May 16.

The bond will pay for street repairs and improvements, improvements to the storm water, water and sewer systems and at the Minidoka County Senior Center, a building owned by the city.

City Administrator Kelly Anthon said the city has been working to catch up on road repairs since 2012 and is spending $175,000 a year but the water on the roads this spring has increased the amount of damage. Many of the damaged roads are in parts of town that have aging water and sewer lines and as the roads are repaired those systems will need to be replaced too.

rupert-idaho

In some areas of the city water is still on the road because of a lack of storm drains.

"It's a Herculean task to get water off the roads in Rupert," Anthon said.

Homeowners with $100,000 in assessed value will pay $4.79 per month before exemptions. Commercial property tax payers will pay $115 per $100,000 in assessed value.

Homeowners eligible for the circuit breaker exemption will not see a tax increase unless the home is assessed at $180,000 or more.

The cost of the bond will be repaid over 30 years at an expected interest rate of 2.68 percent per year.

What will it pay for?

The city will use $1.5 million to repair and repave roads, $700,000 will be used to upgrade the Rupert Square, $585,000 will go to water, $283,000 for wastewater $185,000 for storm water repairs, $125,000 for curb, gutter and parking lots and the city will use $70,000 for needed repairs at the senior center.

City Public Works Director Roger Davis said if roads repairs are not made in many areas the streets will soon deteriorate to gravel.

The city is now 13.4 years behind in repairs just to replace asphalt.

There are 136 blocks in the city that have been identified as first-priority.

The city expects to receive $425,000 in federal disaster funds and $100,000 to $200,000 in state funds due to flooding this spring.

Anthon said the city plans to knock out most of the projects within five years, but it may depend on the availability of road repair crews and pricing because of the high demand the state will see this year.

There is $150,000 worth of work that needs to done at the senior center, which includes bringing bathrooms into ADA compliance, he said.

The city would also work to get grants for the center to complete all the needed repairs and upgrades.

Rupert citizens asked for clarification on bond language and why the city was designating so much money to upgrades on the Square.

Anthon said the City Council does not have to spend the entire amount of money if tax payers approve the bond, and the City Council will be able to prioritize the use of the money.

Tribune Content Agency
Public finance Infrastructure Idaho
MORE FROM BOND BUYER