BROOKINGS – With proposed expenditures of nearly $14.5 million, capital improvement plan funding is one of the bigger chunks of the overall proposed 2023 budget of $61.6 million in Brookings.

There are good reasons for that: Those millions of dollars are planned for, among other things, the second phase of the reconstruction of 22nd Avenue from Eastbrook Drive south to Eighth Street South – specifically, $3.45 million. Another $2.1 million is being set aside for street improvements and overlays, including work on University Boulevard and 20th Street South.

Those projects, which were detailed to members of the Brookings City Council at a budget workshop on Tuesday, account for a significant portion of proposed CIP spending, but not all of it. A breakdown of other key endeavors follows.

Public Works

Aside from the road projects outlined earlier, funding proposals include:

• $465,000 for chip sealing.

• $300,000 for ADA-standard ramps.

• $115,000 for street maintenance such as asphalt and striping.

Total proposed public works expenditures for 2023 add up to more than $7.3 million.

Parks & Recreation

With total proposed expenditures of $1.9 million, the biggest components are:

• $450,000 for a dehumidification project at Larson Ice Center.

“This will not only improve the quality of ice that we see at the facility, but will also take care of the structure themselves as it reduces the condensation, reduces the ability to rust and things of that nature,” Assistant City Manager Jacob Meshke said. “This is a project that benefits not only the playing surface there within, but the building itself.”

• $325,000 for a pickleball court at Hillcrest Park.

“Over $300,000 of that right now is anticipated to be funded through grant projects, which will buy down a large portion of that project and leave very little of the city’s capital project to fund that,” Meshke noted.

• $200,000 set aside for Little Tykes playground equipment replacement at Arrowhead, Indian Hills, Hillcrest and Lions parks.

• $100,000 planned for the Pioneer Park Bandshell.

Public Safety

Coming in at a proposed $1.13 million in expenditures, the biggest totals center around two numbers: $321,510 for Brookings Police Department vehicles and $271,000 for self-contained breathing apparatus equipment for the Brookings Fire Department.

A new weather warning siren for southwest Brookings is proposed at a cost of $30,000.

“(This will be) in the southwest portion of town,” Meshke said. “We utilized our Geographic Information System to ensure that we have appropriate coverage for our emergency sirens. As the community continues to develop to the southwest, we know that an additional siren is now warranted out there, so we are placing one there in the upcoming year to ensure that we have appropriate coverage in the unforeseen or undesirable  event of emergency weather.”

Money coming in

It’s not all about expenditures, of course. Money also flows into the CIP, which for 2023 primarily appears to be coming from sales tax, grants and TIF revenue.

The sales tax – which is charged at 2% by the city and whose revenue is split evenly between the general fund and the CIP – is estimated at more than $8.5 million for next year. Grants totaling nearly $3.8 million are also expected. Lastly, nearly $1.4 million is expected in TIF revenue.

All of that adds up to nearly $13.7 million in revenue for 2023. Toss in another $7.25 million in carried forward/unused funds, and you wind up with a projected CIP revenue of roughly $20.9 million.

Desired projects

Just as the city’s proposed general fund of $19.14 million is balanced for this coming year, so is the CIP. That said, there are some project proposals that could affect the CIP in the years ahead.

“Similar to the story with the general fund is that even though we are able to bring forward a balanced (CIP) budget, this doesn’t necessarily contain all of the desires of staff or necessarily the public or City Council for that matter,” Meshke pointed out. “(The) budget process is always difficult and it is a series of choices where there are projects that are desired and they’re warranted, but they don’t frankly allow us to present these balanced to (the) City Council (or) the community.”

Among them is the public safety center, which already has $8.5 million set aside in the City Council’s priority projects funding – but its cost is expected to be more than that. An analysis on renovation vs. building a new facility is underway, with an expected recommendation to come sometime toward the end of October. Meshke said he expects the cost estimate itself to come in sometime later this year.

“Again, we expect that cost to be much higher at this point with inflation and the evolution of facilities in general,” Meshke said of the public safety center.

Other desired projects that city councilors were reminded of included:

• $3.46 million for trails.

• $1.5 million for an upgrade to the Brookings Public Library.

• $1.2 million for irrigation system upgrades at Edgebrook Golf Course.

• $850,000 for an indoor recreation facility.

Fee changes

Councilors also heard about numerous fee change proposals, along with a new proposed fine with court costs:

• Proposed changes at the Hillcrest Aquatics Center focus on season passes, with individual passes going from $60 to $70 and family-of-three passes going from $150 to $160. Daily admission would be boosted by $1, from $6 to $7.

• Some of the proposed changes at Edgebrook Golf Course include the couples regular membership fee rising from $750 to $790 in 2023. The family regular fee would go from $815 now to $875.

• The improper use of Jake brakes within the city limits of Brookings is the focus of the proposed fine of $60. Add in court costs of $72.50, and you wind up with a total proposed fine of $132.50.

Complete details on all fee change proposals can found in a PDF, starting on page 18, at https://bit.ly/3RjJokl.

What’s ahead

The budgeting process is a complex one. As such, another workshop is planned for Oct. 11. After that, the first reading of the 2023 budget ordinance is set for Oct. 25, with the second reading planned for Nov. 8. Also on Nov. 8, adoption of the 10-year CIP is set, along with adoption of the fee schedule.

Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.