On April 8, the Press Democrat reported that the City of Petaluma is facing a mid-year deficit of $1 million and a $3 million shortfall for the 2009-2010 fiscal year starting this July. The Dutra Haystack Landing project will help solve part of the City of Petaluma’s budget deficit.

Trucking asphalt to the Petaluma area from other communities adds $5 – 6 per ton to the cost of road construction. The Petaluma area uses approximately 500,000 tons of aggregate every year for road construction.  500,000 tons x $5 = $2.5 million.

That means every year without a local source of asphalt, millions would be taken away from departments like police and fire, senior programs, youth programs, park improvements and other vital City and County services just to cover the cost of trucking asphalt from other communities to Petaluma.  Faced with tough choices, the City Council may instead decide  to not repair as many potholes or keep up on annual road maintenance.

Saving $2.5 million per year for vital City and County services and road maintenance… millions more reasons for taxpayers to support the Dutra Haystack Landing project.