Bond Issue Series, Part 2: Drainage System Projects BATON ROUGE, LA (wrkf) - This is the second part in a seven part series examining the Bond Proposal before East Baton Rouge Parish voters on Saturday, November 14th. At 178.3 million dollars, drainage system maintenance and upgrade projects are the second largest component of the bond issue.

Jones Creek is one of the 5 major drainage systems in the parish that could most benefit from the bond issue, because the city funding for these projects could trigger a large matching fund from the Army Corps of Engineers.

The matching funds from the Corps for these drainage projects are not guaranteed. But, both Corps officials and city officials say federal funding for the eligible drainage projects is very likely. Five drainage projects are eligible for a total 137 million dollars in Corps matching funding, if the city puts up 56 and a half million dollars, which it would get from the bond issue.

The city would take on another 10 drainage projects as well, which would be entirely funded by the bond issue. Those projects are spread across the parish, and total 120.4 million.

Now, sum totals. The parish bond issue would directly fund 178 million dollars of drainage system projects. Some of that money may trigger federal matching funds of 137 million. That means, assuming the Congress awards the Corps matching funds, the bond issue would bring 315 million dollars worth of drainage system upgrades and maintenance.

This series continues Monday morning with the traffic signal proposals.

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