The work was put on the back burner for years as the council tried to abide by residents' wishes that it not raise taxes, George has said.
George made the motion at last Wednesday's council meeting to seek bids on the street repair projects to be done this year.
One mill, which represents $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value, brings in about $55,000. Each mill of the new 3 mill tax hike will cost the owner of an average-priced $100,000 home from $14 to $16 more a year.
There may be relief from the street tax in the coming years through the new Emergency and Municipal Services Tax passed in December by the General Assembly.
The new law allows municipalities like Waynesboro to raise its occupational privilege or "work" tax to up to $52 a year.
Anyone working for a Pennsylvania company in a municipality that collects pays the work tax.
Waynesboro collects $5 for each person who works in the borough. The Waynesboro Area School District also collects $5.
Borough Manager Lloyd Hamberger told the council Wednesday that the new law was passed too late to be included in the borough's 2005 budget. He said it would be considered next year.
If the council adopts the new tax law, the $52 it would collect from each worker would raise enough money to replace the 3 mill tax hike for street repairs, he said.
An ordinance is on the books that requires property owners along streets being rebuilt to ensure that their curbs and sidewalks are in good repair and up to borough standards.
Borough officials will check sidewalks and curbs to determine if repairs or replacements are needed.
Property owners will bear the cost of those repairs, Hamberger said.
"If they don't fix them, the borough will, and bill property owners," he said.
The street committee established a list of 23 streets that need rebuilding at an estimated cost of more than $3 million. It did the same for 12 streets the members said need to be resurfaced at a cost of $405,000.
Sections of five streets are earmarked for rebuilding this year at an estimated cost of $511,000. They include:
· Park Street from West Ninth to south of Sunset Avenue.
· Ridge Avenue from West Third Street to West Fourth Street.
· West Second Street from Cleveland Avenue to Hamilton Avenue.
· Park Street from West Sixth Street to Cleveland Avenue.
· Homewood Avenue from South Broad Street to the alley.
Twelve streets on the list are in line for resurfacing in 2005 at an estimated cost of $405,000. They include:
· Sunset Avenue from Fairview Avenue to Park Street.
· Park Street from West Eighth Street to West Ninth Street.
· South Welty Road from the borough line to the bridge.
· Green Street from Hamilton Avenue to east of Ridge Avenue.
· South Church Street from Eighth Street to Ninth Street.
· West Ninth Street from South Church Street to South Potomac Street.
· West Ninth Street from South Potomac Street to Anthony Avenue
· Ringgold Street from East Third Street to East Fifth Street.
· East Third Street from Myrtle Avenue to Clayton Avenue.
· West Fifth Street from Ridge Avenue to Fairview Avenue.
· North Franklin Street from West North Street to King Street.
· Fairview Avenue from West Eighth Street to Sunset Avenue.
