(TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - Tyler city leaders are looking for ideas on how to spend half-cent sales tax revenue, and two public meetings are planned to glean public input.
The city's annual "call for projects" started this week, allowing residents to voice their opinions on what they consider worthwhile capital improvement projects for the community.
Public input will be collected until March 30, officials said.
If people have an idea for a project, now is the time to communicate it, City Engineer Carter Delleney said Wednesday.
"We get public input from different sources, but this year we're doing something different," he said.
"We're going to hold two open houses at the Rose Garden Center — to our memory, we've never had these before."
Gatherings are planned for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 29; and noon to 1 p.m. on March 7.
Both sessions are to be conducted in the center's Rose Room, 420 Rose Park Drive, officials said.
Tyler collects sales tax revenue and then saves it to fund big-ticket projects, such as ongoing construction of Earl Campbell Parkway and ongoing construction of a new Fire Station 5.
The program was approved by voters in 1995 as a way to fund maintenance of its facilities and infrastructure.
Annual sales tax revenues for this fiscal year were initially predicted to be around $11.6 million, but recent decreases could affect the total and, potentially, which projects are funded.
Members of the Half Cent Sales Tax Corporation board said Wednesday they approve of the city's move to go into the community for information.
"The call for projects gives the citizens a chance to have input," said Chairman Ralph Caraway, who also serves on the Tyler City Council. "This (open houses) gives them a chance to address some of their immediate needs — this is well thought out and we appreciate it."
Input collected in previous years originated from comments made in various city board meetings, Delleney said.
Tyler voters indicated that sales tax revenue can only be used for two purposes: to pay down general obligation debt and fund infrastructure, officials said.
The city has no general obligation debt so it uses sales tax revenue to fund its capital improvement projects, such as constructing roads and facilities.
"We have state of Texas rules and regulations to say what half-cent sales taxes can be used for," Delleney said.
To be considered for funding, projects must meet a list of qualifiers: they must cost at least $50,000, be a "one time" expense and provide at least five years' worth of benefit for people who live or work in Tyler.
After a list of project suggestions is compiled, a ranking committee will examine the requests and rank them, according to priority.
The list will be shared with the Half-Cent Sales Tax Corporation board members, who plan to pass their recommendations to the Tyler City Council in July.
Adoption is expected by Oct. 1.
The list, which contains about 220 projects, changes periodically to reflect changes in priorities and funding, officials said.
The top 10 projects center on traffic signal upgrades, new sidewalks, airport fencing and a possible facelift for Harvey Convention Center, records show.
Two $16.4 million road projects — the ongoing construction of Earl Campbell Parkway and improvements on Old Noonday Road — could be finished by fall, Delleney said.
The parkway project creates a new connection from South-Southwest Loop 323 to Texas Highway 155 at Vine Street and improves Old Noonday Road from Vine to Glenwood Boulevard, records show.
For more details about the half-cent sales tax program, visit
www.cityoftyler.org and click on the link for the engineering department. People with inquiries about the call for projects may call 903-531-1126.
