Voters pass city's Five-Mill Referendum

Thanks to the 1,103 Auburn voters who opted to favor the city's Five-Mill Referendum this week, a number of projects now have the funds to move forward.

The biggest turnout came from Wards 5 and 6, where a total of 406 voters went to the poll. Almost 350 voted "yes."

The referendum stipulates how an existing $4 million will be spent in upcoming months. It doesn't affect existing taxes.

One of the more publicized projects is a public 8,454-square-foot senior center that will be built adjacent to the Frank Brown Recreation Center.

Another project is making downtown parking improvements. They include paving public parking lots, creating better public access to existing parking areas, sprucing up the landscaping and acquiring more land to provide parking. Those renovations will cost about $750,000.

The projects were selected based on the results of the annual Citizen Survey. The most recent survey revealed that 55 percent of Auburn residents believe that additional downtown parking is a high priority. The same percentage of residents also support road resurfacing.

"We're fortunate to have an involved citizenry that gives the City Council good input to help them choose projects of value to the community for the Five-Mill Referendum," said David Dorton, City of Auburn Director of Public Affairs. "The Council will be listening to folks carefully over the next few months as they see the results of this year's Annual Citizen Survey and establish a new two-year budget for the City, so it's at least possible that the seeds for the next Five-Mill referendum will be planted in the near future."

In the past, voters approved funds from the Special Five-Mill Property Tax to go toward construction and expansion of the Auburn Public Library, the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, the Yarbrough Tennis Center as well as transportation infrastructure projects.

Plans for the new senior center are ready to be released for bidding, and it is hoped that the city can do that by March.

The existing Frank Brown Center will also receive a 7,912-square-foot addition. Construction includes repositioning the main entrance and adding a racquetball court, fitness rooms complete with new equipment, classrooms and offices.