At the City Council meeting last Monday there were several citizens who spoke during the public hearing on the notice to levy special assessments for the 2016 Bituminous Resurfacing Program. After the comments by the residents located along these street projects there was a detailed discussion by the City Council before approving the proposed assessments and the contract for the 2016 resurfacing program. Special assessments are charges for a portion of the cost of the street and curb improvements that are assessed, per State Statute, to abutting properties.
The streets included in the 2016 Resurfacing Program are South 17th Street from Arizona Avenue to Maryland Avenue, Kentucky Avenue from South 8th Street to South 9th Street, Georgia Avenue from South 8th Street to South 9th Street, Saemann Avenue from Calumet Drive to North 21st Street, South 9th Street from Indiana Avenue to Georgia Avenue, and North 6th Street from Niagara Avenue to Superior Avenue. These streets all have a concrete base with a layer of blacktop laid over the concrete. The blacktop will be milled off and a new layer of blacktop will be applied. Broken concrete curb will also be replaced where necessary.
The Sheboygan Engineering Department has established a process to inform the abutting property owners of the upcoming pavement projects. Informational meetings were held in April and May. City representatives discussed the preliminary assessments that would be sent to each property owner. The utilities in the street were detailed and the schedule for each project was reviewed. All resident questions were answered and appointments for onsite meetings were set.
When the City resurfaces a street and replaces the curb, the project is financed by assessing the property owner for one-half of the total cost. The property owner on the one side of the street pays 25% and the property owner on the other side of the street pays the other 25% of the repairs. The city pays the remaining half. If a property owner lives along a street that is wider than 36 feet, the extra width will be paid for by the City. All intersections are 100% paid for by the City. When the curb and gutter is replaced the City pays 50% of this cost.
Properties which are located on corners and have the potential for a corner lot credit. For instance if a property recently was assessed one street that they abut, these corner properties have the potential to receive a corner lot credit of 120 feet which would significantly reduce their assessment for the second abutting street that is being assessed.
When the preliminary notice is sent out it is assumed that all of the curb will be replaced. However, the current curb that is in good shape will not be replaced. After the project is finished the length of curb that was replaced will be measured and be billed to the property owner along with the road replacement cost. The Finance Department sends a preliminary assessment notice based on the frontage of each property. When the project is finished the final bill will be sent to all abutting property owners.
Assessments are used as a method of financing major construction to offset the principal and interest of loans used for construction and major maintenance. Assessments per property typically only occur once every 20-40 years. The City has tax levy caps in place, assessments allow the city do approximately 40% more street resurfacing than it could perform with the same budget. Average Street Resurfacing Assessments will be between $2,000 and $4,000 per property.