Lincoln's proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year calls for $70.5 million in capital improvement projects, a nearly $14 million drop from the previous year's.
The 2008-09 spending plan also reflects an unexpected savings in the cost of building the long-awaited Highway 65 bypass.
Public Works Director John Pedri told the council that the winning bid for the bypass came in 28 percent lower than the projected $324 million.
As a result, Lincoln's share of the cost dropped from about $20 million to $14.5 million, he said.
Construction costs have been going down in response to a lackluster housing market. Many public agencies are seeing more attractive bids as construction companies compete for work.
Last month, Placer County and state officials announced that the winning bid for a project to add carpool lanes on Interstate 80 through Roseville came in $86 million less than estimated.
"This is the time to get the biggest bang for the buck," Councilman Tom Cosgrove said.
Cosgrove, who worked with various agencies to get the Lincoln bypass project approved and funded, said the substantial savings may allow the state Department of Transportation to build a four-lane bypass around the downtown area, instead of a two-lane version.
"During the process of trying to get the project through, the cost was escalating exponentially," Cosgrove said. "So we scaled it back to two lanes. The bid came in under the engineer's estimate, so we should be able to put four lanes back through Wise Road."
Next year's list of park projects is smaller than in in years past, totaling a little less than $2 million.
The largest project scheduled for funding is Moore Road Park for $697,000. The 14-acre "passive" park will connect to the city's trail system and may include picnic and rest areas as well as a wildlife information kiosk.
In addition, Moore Road Park may be the site for a new off-leash dog park.
The city's popular McBean Park also is scheduled for $470,000 in improvements, including a new gazebo and bandstand as well as recreational and open space trails.
Mayor Primo Santini asked staff members to look at the different areas of the city to try to determine whether each has enough parks.
"We've all received letters from citizens in the Lincoln Crossing area who are arguing that their area is underserved and that they would like to see more park-building activity in their area," Santini said.
Although the 2008-09 budget includes $25,000 to build the 1- acre Machado Park, other community parks in Lincoln Crossing won't receive funding.
Pedri told the council that he is looking at ways to phase construction of a 6-acre Nathan Dubin Community Park, also in the Lincoln Crossing area.
"So we do have some ideas, such as going in there and putting some seed down and some irrigation," Pedri said. "We still need time to look at the big picture."
More than $35.5 million will be spent next year on wastewater projects, including $25.7 million to build a sewer collection and transportation system along Athens Road.
Funding for the project will come from assessment districts and nearly $7 million from the United Auburn Indian Community, which owns Thunder Valley Casino.
The city also will spend $4 million to expand the wastewater treatment and reclamation plant and $2.3 million to construct a recycled water facility.
Among road projects on next year's $13.5 million to-do list is the $4.7 million Ferrari Ranch Road interchange along the Highway 65 bypass and the nearly $2.9 million replacement of the aging Markham Ravine Bridge.
The upcoming budget also calls for $4.1 million to begin construction on a 60,000- square-foot corporation yard and nearly $3.7 million on improvements to the airport, including a new arrival-and- departure building and a hangar.
The 2008-09 budget is scheduled to go before the City Council for final approval Tuesday.
Call The Bee's Jennifer K. Morita, (916) 773-7388.
