The City of Homer’s number one legislative capital budget priority for fiscal year 2017 is a new Public Safety Building. Mayor Beth Wythe says that although the budget is tight, the city can’t put the project on hold.
“Putting the Police Department on hold certainly I do not see that as an option. They are I a very unhealthy and unsafe working environment right now. The police department, the way it is set up right now, the relationship and the corridors for access of prisoners to employees is not really good. The facility itself tends to flood regularly and we need to change that as quickly as we can," said Wythe.
The city is asking for a little more than $1.2 Million dollars from the state for the Public Safety building.
In addition the city is requesting more than 9 Million dollars for the East boat Harbor; nearly a Million dollars for a Harbor Sheet Pile Loading Dock; a little more than a Million for Fire Department Equipment Upgrades; and just over 300-thousand dollars for their Storm Water Master Plan.
The Legislative session begins on January 20th. City Manager, Katie Koester said in an email that expectations are low due to declining oil revenue and a state budget shortfall. Mayor Wythe made her comments about the Public Safety Building on Wednesday, January 6th on KBBI’s Public Affairs Program, The Coffee Table.
