The city of Buckley plans to spend nearly $4.4 million during the coming year, all in the name of making the small community a better place to live.
The expenditures – all under the heading of “capital improvements” – are scattered throughout various elements of the 2021 municipal budget, which was to be adopted this week. The lion’s share of the money comes from the city’s revenue stream, but there are hundreds of thousands of grant dollars included.
While much of the spending will be on highly-visible projects (pavement and parks, for example) other expenditures will be buried underground in the form of utility improvements.
Here’s a look at some of the largest projects Buckley looks to tackle during 2021.
Heavily-used River Avenue will see extensive improvements, just as nearby Cedar Street did this year. The roadway will be upgraded between Main Street and the post office.
The anticipated River Avenue work carries an estimated price tag of $766,400. A grant from the state’s Transportation Improvement Board will contribute $285,075 toward the cost, with the city picking up the rest of the tab.
A trio of Buckley alleyways will take a decent chunk of money from the city’s “sewer repair and construction” fund. Earmarked for projects are Naches and Second streets between Park and Mason; a second project calls for work to Edith and Cascade and a final alley plan calls for sewer work Norma and Edith; both of those will extend from Park to Fourth.
The financial tally for the three projects climbs to $779,000, all coming from the city’s sewer and stormwater funds.
An estimated $400,000 is earmarked to enhance the stretch of the Foothills Trail that runs through the heart of Buckley. The money is pegged for parking and “trailhead construction.”
An athletic complex, which likely will include tennis courts and a basketball court, is on the 2021 capital improvement schedule. The new attraction is planned for city-owned land near existing attractions like the skate park, climbing rocks and the Buckley Youth Center.
Next year’s spending plan includes $215,000 for the sporting feature.
Local money and grant funds are identified for Rainier Gateway Court. Spending in 2021 is listed at $167,694, with nearly 45 percent grant-funded and the rest coming from the city.
