Special Bonds Election in Fayetteville

In less than a month, if you wash your hands, flush a toilet or drive in Fayetteville this special bonds election effects you. Here`s a break down Four bond issues are on the ballot. The first and second will decide where money will come from to complete the sewer treatment plant and expand the system. The third would improve local roads. And the fourth, if approved, will expand the city trail system. The bonds will be funded by taxes, a word mayor Dan Coody knows people don`t like to hear. Here`s the reason the sewer bonds are on the ballot. In 2001, Fayetteville borrowed money to fund the new plant. But Mayor Coody says the price tag they came up with back then - didn`t foresee the fact that we`d be at war now, that the Gulf Coast would be hit by two hurricanes, gas prices would be hovering around 3 dollars and that building supply prices would skyrocket. So, to make up for the 58 million dollar shortfall, the city found 20 million it could use by pooling money and canceling projects. The rest though, some 38 million, would come from the two bonds. So if voters don`t approve the bonds, Mayor Coody says the money will have to come from somewhere - and that will be a 30 percent hike in sewer rates over the next 22 years. Fayetteville is exploding - and our streets are having a hard time keeping up with the traffic that comes with more drivers. Mayor Coody says its time to start seriously investing in roads, since the population is expected to grow another 30-thousand by 2025. If voters pass this bond - the city will spend 68 million dollars widening and improving roads to help the congestion. The city put up blue signs alerting citizens about the plans, which includes projects like widening crossover to four lanes with turn lanes and incorporating sidewalks and bike lanes. Mayor Coody says all the road improvements will be completed by the time the bonds are paid off in 2018.