Second in a series

Re “Reluctantly, Weissman Serves a To-Do Dish for Cooper”

Besides a likely financial crisis of daunting size, former Mayor Andy Weissman cited a handful of further imposing challenges confronting week-old Mayor Jeff Cooper.

Since leaving office a year ago, he has been closely tracking City Hall finances and the City Council’s performances.

“We have aging infrastructure, roads and sidewalks and curbs and street lights, all of which demand attention,” Mr. Weissman said.

These basics require a more aggressive approach, he believes.

“We are addressing them only in increments in our capital improvement budget,” he said, “and the result is we are falling further behind.

“In addition the sales tax (approved in 2012) sunsets. It currently generates about $9 million a year, and that is an issue that needs to be handled.

“If the sales tax increase is not extended, then we have another $9 million shortfall in terms of our structural deficit.”

To condense his assessment, Mr. Weissman said that “there are issues of huge impact the City Council needs to focus its attention on. I hope the mayor keeps his eye on them.

“The economic issues are critical to any future quality of life or economic development prospects for the city.”

(To be continued)