MONROE - Mayor Ron Marsh wants about nine to 10 months to put together a package of alternatives for the Board of Public Works to consider for funding the city's street and sidewalks.
Marsh backed off his recommendation for the city to spend about $40,000 to study and implement a transportation utility, at Monday's Board of Public Works meeting, after stating he has done more investigation since his last public presentation on June 23.
"We think we can develop a system in house," he told the board.
But the plan would not be a "rush-rush deal," he said.
Marsh wants to bring a "semi-final package" of alternatives, which the Board would "need to make a logical and sensible decision," he said.
"I would still like the option of continue down the road to look at options," Marsh told the board.
Marsh and City Engineer Al Gerber would look at options including, a referendum, an increase in the budget, a wheel tax, a utility tax or a combination of the options.
Regardless of the options, Marsh said he would include some credit for those who have already paid for sidewalks by some kind of amortization schedule over time.
Alderman Charles Koch said he has heard an overwhelming majority of people in Monroe saying, "no more tax increases."
"We have to work with what we got and hold the line," Koch told the board.
The city may have to do what the state does - put up signs that say "rough road," he said.
Alderman Jan Lefevre favored cutting out sidewalks, which are "absolutely not necessary," to bring down the costs.
"The Mayor talks about alternative means of revenue for the city, but there are also alternative means of cutting costs, at least until the economy improves," said Monroe resident John Glynn.
A transportation utility weighed the costs too heavily toward businesses and non-profits, making it a political non-start, Glynn said.
Marsh began his presentation with the possibility of using a wheel tax.
A wheel tax would remain a viable option, but it should be attached to something else, he said.
If the city tried to "dump all road and street costs" into a wheel tax, the cost would be too much, Marsh said.
Based on the number of vehicles registered in Monroe - between 10,500 and 11,000 - a wheel tax alone would run about $190, plus registration cost, per vehicle, he said.
The city should be spending on roads and sidewalks about $1.9 million, calculated on in 2009 costs, Marsh said. The city had $1.2 million to spend in the 2009 budget.
Sidewalks normally costs about $186,000 annually, but only $86,000 is available in the 2009 budget.
Marsh said the state approved a one percent increase in the city's tax levy, but it is not something the city should consider spending.
"That's the last money we should be spending," he said.
However, the city would still have to come up with the money somehow, Alderman Dan Henke said.
"(Alternative means of revenue) are not going to change the costs; $1.9 million has to be looked at. I can't see taxpayers being hit with anything," he said.
Marsh backed off his recommendation for the city to spend about $40,000 to study and implement a transportation utility, at Monday's Board of Public Works meeting, after stating he has done more investigation since his last public presentation on June 23.
"We think we can develop a system in house," he told the board.
But the plan would not be a "rush-rush deal," he said.
Marsh wants to bring a "semi-final package" of alternatives, which the Board would "need to make a logical and sensible decision," he said.
"I would still like the option of continue down the road to look at options," Marsh told the board.
Marsh and City Engineer Al Gerber would look at options including, a referendum, an increase in the budget, a wheel tax, a utility tax or a combination of the options.
Regardless of the options, Marsh said he would include some credit for those who have already paid for sidewalks by some kind of amortization schedule over time.
Alderman Charles Koch said he has heard an overwhelming majority of people in Monroe saying, "no more tax increases."
"We have to work with what we got and hold the line," Koch told the board.
The city may have to do what the state does - put up signs that say "rough road," he said.
Alderman Jan Lefevre favored cutting out sidewalks, which are "absolutely not necessary," to bring down the costs.
"The Mayor talks about alternative means of revenue for the city, but there are also alternative means of cutting costs, at least until the economy improves," said Monroe resident John Glynn.
A transportation utility weighed the costs too heavily toward businesses and non-profits, making it a political non-start, Glynn said.
Marsh began his presentation with the possibility of using a wheel tax.
A wheel tax would remain a viable option, but it should be attached to something else, he said.
If the city tried to "dump all road and street costs" into a wheel tax, the cost would be too much, Marsh said.
Based on the number of vehicles registered in Monroe - between 10,500 and 11,000 - a wheel tax alone would run about $190, plus registration cost, per vehicle, he said.
The city should be spending on roads and sidewalks about $1.9 million, calculated on in 2009 costs, Marsh said. The city had $1.2 million to spend in the 2009 budget.
Sidewalks normally costs about $186,000 annually, but only $86,000 is available in the 2009 budget.
Marsh said the state approved a one percent increase in the city's tax levy, but it is not something the city should consider spending.
"That's the last money we should be spending," he said.
However, the city would still have to come up with the money somehow, Alderman Dan Henke said.
"(Alternative means of revenue) are not going to change the costs; $1.9 million has to be looked at. I can't see taxpayers being hit with anything," he said.