The City Council last night approved Mayor Foster’s $571 million plan for improving the city’s infrastructure by an 8-1 vote, with Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske dissenting. The bond will now be placed on this November’s ballot and requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
The plan (which the Press-Telegram reports is officially called the Long Beach Infrastructure Reinvestment Act) will be paid for by collecting an extra $10 per month from homeowners in parcel tax through the year 2044, rising over the years to account for inflation.
The $571 million will be divided into separate bonds for specific projects – everything from street and sewer repair to creation of parks and restoration of wetlands. Full completion is expected in about 10 years.
See Dennis Smith’s thoughts on the plan here, and Daniel Brezenoff’s vision for its future here.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor