• SITE
• HOMES
• MOTORS
• CAREERS
• STUFF

Up to $3.2 million in city tax money may be devoted to street and other improvements to complement the school district’s building program.

That money is in addition to the $159 million bond issue voters approved for actual construction of new schools, including two high schools.

Council member Jim Wyatt said he hasn’t decided how he will vote on the issue when the city council considers it today. That meeting will be at 5 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 107 W. Juan Linn St.

The school district chip in more money for such improvements as a new traffic light, Wyatt said.

It will be on Main Street to serve one of the new high schools.

“Many of my constituents told me that they pay city taxes for city items,” he said. “I consider city items streets and infrastructure and traffic lights and so forth.”

Wyatt said someone commented in a recent council meeting the city should pick up the cost of improvements that improve traffic safety for students.

“Well, I’m likewise,” he said. “But I think both taxing entities, the school and the city, should see that all of our citizens are safe, whether they be school children or adults.”

Council Member Paul Polasek said he doesn’t have a problem with the city putting up the money because it is a cooperative effort.

“I feel that we’re serving the same set of taxpayers,” he said. “Anytime we can ensure that the proper infrastructure is in place, we should do it.” he said.

The city is being proactive in making the improvements so they dovetail with the school building project and so people can get into and out of the schools safely, he said.