A new feature of KN will be to track the bills coming due to us lucky city
taxpayers and to track ways that we may be asked to pay for these identified
needs.

Candidates running for council and school committee may want to begin thinking
about what kind of leadership they can offer on finding solutions or at least
honing their verbal tap dancing skills.

IDENTIFIED NEEDS
================
Drinking Water System Upgrade - $27 Million
Sewerage treatment upgrades to protect beaches - $50+ Million
Roads - $21 Mil
Elementary schools - $20+ Million
Post-employment health care liabilities - $115 Million, growing to $175
million in 2009
================================================================
* GRAND TOTAL $233+ Million
* To fund over 30 years at 5% interest rate - you would need to begin paying
$15 Million each year.



WAYS THAT NEWPORT COULD ADDRESS THESE NEEDS
===========================================
Drinking Water System Upgrade - ? <Ban drinking of city water, make
Pepsi the official city liquid?>

Sewerage treatment upgrades to protect beaches - ? <Close beaches?>

Roads - ? <Do nothing? Crumbling streets make it safer for pedestrians>

Elementary schools - ? <Sell them to the Navy and lease them back?>

Post-employment health care liabilities - ? <Ask the RI Blue Cross CEO &
board for answers?>