Sterling Prioritizes Storm Water Projects

The city of Sterling, Wis., announced it is prioritizing storm water sewer projects. It plans to accomplish eight of 10 storm water sewer projects on its high-priority list in 2018 to alleviate flooding problems in several areas of the city.

In April, voters approved a referendum that doubled the local option sales tax for infrastructure projects. The tax will now bring in an estimated $2.35 million a year for capital projects. The city had promised that most of the money from the tax would be earmarked for long-needed storm water sewer improvements.

To speed up the process, the city recently received nearly $9.8 million in bond proceeds. Sales tax revenue will be used to pay back the bond over the next 20 years.

“We’ll pay $1 million a year for the first 3 years, but the payments will be $620,000 for the remaining 17 years, so that will free up some additional sales tax money for other projects,” said City Manager Scott Shumard.

Read about the projects the city has planned.