With President Barack Obama looking to use construction as a means to get this economy back on track, local administrators here are looking to see what state money they might be able to drum up. Here's a list of possibilities sent to the city's decision makers last week:

Local Schools

You undoubtedly know that the House version includes an anticipated $84 million in direct aid to local school districts in the eight (8) county “Capital Region.” Here in Saratoga County $11.5 million is earmarked for distribution over the next two years. The Saratoga Springs School District would receive $2.8 million, or over 24% of all additional aid to the county’s 11 school districts. Of the $2.8 million, $700,000 is for “construction” and $1.7 million is for IDEA/Special Ed Funding.

Saratoga County

Counties in the same eight (8) county “Capital Region” would receive $42.8 million out of a nationwide total of $100 billion for Medicaid assistance. Saratoga County would receive $5.3 million in 2009, or over 23% of its anticipated 2009 share of Medicaid costs. This might benefit the City if the county uses some or the entire windfall to free up a portion of its “fund balance” for distribution to its 30 MCDs.

The City

Transportation and Transit

Of course we already know that certain transportation improvements within the City that are on the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) will be aided. The CDTC Planning Committee is presenting a comprehensive Economic Stimulus Program (ESP) for State and local transportation projects for Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties. The list is divided between projects with 90 and 180 day delivery periods and which have TIP status.

At this time, New York expects to receive $1.4 billion for highway and transit projects. CDTC expects to receive between $80 million and $100 million for projects within the four county region.

There are five (5) transportation projects here in Saratoga Springs on the “Draft List of CDTC Candidate Stimulus Projects.” They are presented along with all proposed regional projects on the attached tabular summary and map. For ease of reference I have also summarized them below.

TIP No. Project PIN Amount Requested Earliest Let Date

SA216 Church St. Reconstruction 175714 $1.65 million May 9, 2009

SA181 Spring Run Trail 175593 $1.50 million June 15, 2009

SA221 Saratoga County Rte. 43 175707 $1.50 million June 15, 2009

(Geyser Rd.) over D&H RR

T84 Saratoga Bus Garage T84 $1.50 million June 15, 2009

SA201 Ballston Ave. Reconstruction 175660 $1.30 million April 15, 2011

(Union St. to Hamilton St.)

We are currently in the process of batching all Spring Run Trail work elements, easements, status of permits, etc.

Housing

HR 1 includes a $5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund for building repair and modernization. $4 billion of these funds will be distributed to public housing authorities (i.e., the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority) through existing formula and $1 billion will be awarded through a competitive process for projects which improve energy efficiency.

The legislation also includes other housing related initiatives which the City may benefit from. Among these are the “Home Investment Partnerships” ($1.5 billion to help local communities build and rehabilitate low-income housing using “Green” technologies; and “Neighborhood Stabilization” ($4.2 billion to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed properties.

Community Development

$1 billion will be made available for grants to local communities to support employment, food, housing, and healthcare efforts serving those hardest hit by the recession. These “grants” will probably flow to CAAs such as EOC.

Another $1 billion will be set aside for Community Development Block Grants.

Law Enforcement

The Bill includes $4 billion to support state and local law enforcement including $3 billion for the Byrne Justice Assistance formula grants for equipment and operation costs. I have attached a one page general description of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG).

Please note that “facility” construction is NOT eligible, but it is feasible the lockup (jail cells) of a new Public Safety Facility would be.

There is $1 billion for the COPS hiring grant program. The COPS grant program is expected to result in the hiring of 13,000 new police nationwide for three years. Grantees are responsible for at least 25% in matching funds and must commit to use local funds in the fourth year.

Of course this is only an initial examination, the Senate is yet to act and then presumably the legislation will go to conference committee. This is simply a brief overview of elements of the Stimulus Package that may directly benefit us. I hope you will find it informative.