Bond issue funds many projects

   The city's $18 million bond issue approved in March is included in the 2011-12 budget. Actual amount of the bonds is $15.4 million, the balance in fees and closing costs.

Bond proceeds in the General Fund:

· Riberia Street peninsula bank stabilization $800,000

· Wayfinding signage for downtown $100,000

· Street resurfacing/sidewalk repairs $250,000

· Island fire station and other miscellaneous $40,000

In the Utility Fund:

· San Sebastian river force main $625,000

· Volusia/Pearl Street upgrades $510,000

· King Street drainage phase 2 $340,000

· Utility projects, priority a $3,525,000

· Riberia Street phase 1 $1,099,125

· Riberia Street phase 2 $1,922,000

In the Stormwater Fund:

· Riberia Street phase 1 $1,800,875

· Riberia Street phase 2 $1,888,000

And in the Marina Fund:

· Breakwater $2,500,000

History's highlight 

City budget woes not new

  4 years, 10 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary 

   From Augustine.com

    A century ago, federal funds were not available to local governments for the building of roads and bridges, and it was to another source that many municipalities had to turn.

   In the case of St. Augustine, Henry M. Flagler was the benefactor and he, like the federal government in modem times, was not always pleased with the way his plans were carried out.

   In 1906, Mr. Flagler wrote to his third vice president, J. E. Ingraham, complaining that the city was not keeping the streets in good repair and asked for "a little measure of public spirit, at least enough to keep the only street we have to the railroad in good condition."

   Mr. Ingraham looked into the situation and wrote to Mr. Flagler, explaining to him that, at least in his opinion, the city was doing the best it could with what it had to work with. He pointed out that only the year before, the tax rate had been raised from 1.5 to 2 percent and that this managed to bring into the city's coffers a total of $53,085.42, more than double the revenues for the year 1892.

   Twenty years previously, Mr. Flagler had built the very streets about which he was complaining (.89 miles - 4,700 ft. of wooden block streets and 1.19 miles of asphalt).

   To this the city had added 1.55 miles of brick-paved thoroughfares, plus 6.53 miles covered with oyster shells, and they had done this without going into debt or increasing the taxes on property owned by the Florida East Coast Railway. The only really large outstanding obligation was for the water works which had lately been much improved.

   Mr. Ingraham hoped that the new city council, just elected, would be able to do a little better about keeping the city's streets repaired, but he pointed out that St. Augustine was not a wealthy community.

   In his report he said, "St. Augustine is too close to Jacksonville to make much business here, and there are not more than six men who are residents of the city or county who have an income of $5,000.00 per annum, so it could hardly be expected that anything of importance could be carried through without your help."

   Mr. Ingraham closes his report to his boss by reminding Mr. Flagler that in 1859, many years before Mr. Flagler came with his money and his interest in developing the city, the total money brought in by the city in taxes was just $588.07.

   Not much street repair, or anything else, could have been financed in those days.

   James E. Ingraham served as St. Augustine mayor 1914-1920.

   Images: Henry Flagler (left), J.E. Ingraham (right)