Cities asking voters to borrow too much

Voters on March 13 should rein in the multi-million-dollar spending sprees that Coral Springs and Pompano Beach hope to take with the public’s credit card.

Coral Springs wants voters to approve borrowing about $78 million to pay for streets and drainage improvements, parks upgrades and public safety facilities and equipment.

Pompano Beach wants even more, asking voters’ permission to borrow an eyepopping $181 million for a list of infrastructure, parks and public safety projects.

To get the money, both cities are asking voters to approve three bond referendums. The debt would be repaid with an increase in people’s property taxes.

What’s troubling is that both cities know voter turnout is historically low in March elections. Both should have waited until November, when elections for city commission or mayor will be on the ballot, along with high-profile races for governor and the U.S. Senate. Instead, they are forcing taxpayers to fund a special election — $190,000 in Coral Springs and at least $100,000 in Pompano Beach. They say they want to give voters unfettered space to think through these spending decisions. Baloney. They know low turnout improves the odds of passage.

Voters should reject such shenanigans and reject most, though not all, of the bond proposals.

Two of the three proposals in each city — those for parks and public safety projects — look more like wish lists than lists of essentials.

But a third proposal in each city — to pay for road repairs and a backlog of infrastructure improvements — is a worthwhile public investment. Here’s a more detailed look at what’s proposed: if they are needed at all.

On the other hand, voters should support the $24-million bond to repair streets and improve drainage. About $13 million would be spent to resurface roads, and $11 million would go to improve drainage and reduce flooding, primarily in Westchester and Meadows and Dells, as well as in the city’s Corporate Park. Both are worthwhile expenses that provide a much-needed public benefit.

Building a new splash park, renovating an amphitheater and adding more sports fields are good ideas that could be tackled over time.

Besides, the city plans to spend much of the parks bond money to reimburse itself for previously planned projects, including $9 million for the pier replacement. A bond proposal should pay for new projects, not previous expenses.

That said, the $79-million bond proposal for road repairs and similar infrastructure improvements makes sense.

Though costly, the bond would pay for resurfacing streets, widening roads, adding bike lanes, fixing bridges and giving city thoroughfares a needed face-lift.

About $42 million would go to upgrade the A1A and Dixie Highway corridors with added lights, improved sidewalks and bike lanes, underground utility lines and new landscaping. Another $7 million would pay for paving, median upgrades and drainage improvements along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Fixing crumbling roads and beautifying corridors are worthwhile investments that benefit residents and help businesses thrive.

Managing all these projects at once, or in sequence, will be a challenge. That’s why Pompano Beach should focus first on improving its corridors before asking taxpayers to fund the kitchen sink.

Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, Elana Simms, Andy Reid and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson.