The City of DeKalb has proposed storm water projects totaling $15 million, but a five-year capital improvement program issued in January determined $250,000 was available for storm water projects anually, City Manager Mark Stevens said.

A primary issue for DeKalb’s city budget in fiscal 1988 is storm water capital improvements, Stevens said. DeKalb’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Stevens discussed possible budgetary issues for the new fiscal year at a press conference Friday.

The storm water issue includes storm water planning, a sump pump inspection project, storm water financing and project staffing, Stevens said.

The city is not implementing major storm water programs, but the city council wants to create special service districts, Stevens said. The council wants to design storm water assistance programs for private homes without using major capital improvements, he said.

The five-year program concentrated on existing issues, he said.

The council will meet for a workshop March 3 to discuss priority storm water projects, Stevens said. “They (council members) have indicated an economic development priority, because the undeveloped outlying areas of the community have significant problems with storm water,” he said.

Capital improvement does not provide money for the problems in the undeveloped areas, which becomes a significant issue if the city wants to develop, Stevens said.

Another significant issue for the new city budget is an update on the city’s comprehensive plan and comprehensive development ordinance, Stevens said. The city believes the absence of this ordinance impairs DeKalb’s ability to develop, he said.

Part of the existing ordinance relies on data more than 20 years old, he said.

The city also needs to discuss municipal space factors, such as office and storage space, Stevens said. Lack of space is becoming an increasingly important problem, he said.

The city still needs more time and attention spent on financial planning, mass transit issues and disaster planning, Stevens said.