Budget cuts stall Queen Creek road work

Tough economic times will hit Queen Creek's progress on roads. A notable portion of the $23.4 million in budget cuts approved by the Town Council earlier this month for the current fiscal year comes from delaying transportation projects until the town sees an economic upturn.

More than $8.5 million has been trimmed in intersection and roadway improvements.

Among the stalled projects are intersection improvements at Ocotillo and Power roads, Hunt Highway and Power Road, and Ellsworth Road and San Tan Boulevard. Installing traffic lights at Queen Creek and Hawes roads and Ocotillo and Meridian roads has also been delayed.

The Town Council has also approved holding off on widening Rittenhouse Road near Sossaman Road, Hawes Road between Rittenhouse and Victoria roads, Sossaman Road between Germann Road and Emperor Estates, and Sossaman between Chandler Heights and Riggs roads.

Queen Creek resident Chris Kinney said the budget cuts are a question of priorities, with roads needed to bring people to town to spend tax dollars, helping the overall budget.

"The priority should totally be roads. Period," he said. "Queen Creek has made a decision to become a commercial area. We have to look at what is going to bring the greatest monetary return to Queen Creek."

The town has made progress on many transportation projects, but others, such as widening Rittenhouse Road between Sossaman and Ellsworth roads, need to be done, he said.

"Basically, it's work before play, and roads are definitely work, but that is what is going to provide money for the play," Kinney said.

Queen Creek Town Councilman-elect Jeff Brown said the stalled projects are a reality of the town's budget situation, but he doesn't think residents will feel immediate impacts.

"These things take a while to manifest themselves," Brown said of the delayed projects. "I think we're three to six months out from really seeing the impact."

Assistant Town Manager Patrick Flynn said town officials considered the direct impact to residents when they looked for places to cut and are still moving forward with more than $80 million in projects.

"We try limiting that as much as we can," he said. "If you look at the list, we attempted to state what the impact was from our observation."

Queen Creek officials said tough economic times are part of a regionwide housing slowdown. The town originally projected 500 housing permits issued this fiscal year but is now projecting between 200 and 225. Each new house brings the town about $5,000 in permit fees and sales tax, and $15,500 in development impact fees.