The American Jobs Act is on the table, and local leaders are looking at what it means for Auburn, Opelika and Alabama.
The $447 billion bill is a combination of tax cuts, tax breaks, funding for teachers, funding for school renovations, funding for community college renovations and infrastructure stimulus.
"I don't have much confidence that it's going to do anything for Opelika, Lee County or the state of Alabama that will have any long-term impact," said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller.
President Barack Obama is using a grade sheet created by the American Society of Civil Engineers to push the need for investment in infrastructure.
The nation's infrastructure currently has a grade of "D." While states don't receive grades, ASCE has listed its recommendations for Alabama.
The group's top three infrastructure concerns in the state are roads, wastewater and bridges. It says Alabama has $3.51 billion in infrastructure needs and $3 billion in deferred transportation maintenance.
Twenty-six percent of Alabama's bridges are structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, and 16 percent of Alabama's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, according to the ASCE. The jobs bill allocates almost $513 million for Alabama's transportation infrastructure.
"We've got some infrastructure needs, including expanding our water resources, our outer loop and some highway projects that we've been looking for funding for," said Auburn Mayor Bill Ham.
J. Terry Jenkins, superintendent of Auburn City Schools, said he has reservations about the bill, which allocates $451 million to save the jobs of Alabama teachers, police and firefighters.
"I have serious doubts we'll ever see one dime of that money," Jenkins said. "Usually what they do is target large cities."
Jenkins said Auburn is in a period of growth, which keeps away additional funding.
"Over the last four years, we've picked up 1,700 additional students," Jenkins said. "As far as cutting back or laying off teachers, that's not even an option for us."
Jenkins said Auburn is the exception to decline in Alabama.
"Now, if I were with Birmingham or Montgomery, they are not growing," Jenkins said. "They continue to lose students annually. I would say that in the state of Alabama, probably less than 20 percent (of school systems) are growing."
Also in the bill is a payroll tax cut aimed at encouraging businesses to hire. The proposal lowers the payroll tax to 3.1 percent, cutting it in about half. It is only applicable, however, to the first $5 million in wages paid.
Jan Ellis of the Southern Company, which owns Alabama Power, the second-largest employer in Alabama, said their long-term hiring and growth predictions don't change if the bill is passed.
Fuller said he disagrees with the spirit of the bill.
"I'm going back to my central objection: what did the last one do?" Fuller said. "The best indicator of future performance is past performance. We see where the unemployment is nationally right now. We have no growth and a huge debt. Someone has to pay for this."
Fuller said infrastructure is a local obligation.
"Of course we could use some stimulus money, but we think it's our responsibility to handle those things," Fuller said. "We've got the ability to handle the debt of long-term bond issues for road projects."
Fuller said he is wary of another round of federal dollars.
"We've been pretty good stewards of tax-payer money," Fuller said. "Maybe some places haven't been. Maybe they're in trouble with roads and bridges, but you and I shouldn't have to pay for their mistakes. You can't fix stupid."
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