Scott Persons wrote: the City is on the hook for 10 million for the Access Project. What David should have said is that the Access Project is about 3 times lower the cost to you than Block E and 6 times lower than the cost to you than Target.
David Piehl writes: Reality check: The Access Project previously carried a price tag of $153 million, and when sorting out the ramp to I94 was added, project promoters said it could cost up to an additional $30 million. This means that the estimated cost is $183 million, without the typical over-runs (don't they usually add 10% to 20%?)so a statement that the project price tag is rapidly approaching $200 million is right on the mark. Saying that city taxpayers are *only* on the hook for $10 million apparently assumes that those who pay taxes in the city do not pay state or federal taxes. Further, and more importantly, there is the opportunity cost i.e. the value of what could be built if this project isn't. Money wasted is money wasted regardless of what level of government is paying the bill - promoting it as a bargain for the city for the city's $10 million contribution is to operate within a very narrow silo - or empty rhetoric. David Piehl Central __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - establish your business online http://webhosting.yahoo.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Send all posts in plain-text format. 2. Cut as much of the post you're responding to as possible. ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
