With a long list of unfunded capital projects that is getting longer, the Mercer Island City Council will have to decide by the end of the year where to allocate taxpayer money.

Finance Director Chip Corder lead a “kick-off” for the city’s capital improvement fund at the March 21 council meeting. Though the city plans biennial budgets, the capital improvement plan is outlined over a six-year period.

Some of the most expensive projects include a dock replacement at Groveland Beach estimated at $1.48 million, new ball field lights at Island Crest Park estimated at $719,000 and a maintenance center renovation with a preliminary cost estimate of $3.6-$3.9 million.

Staff will come back to the council on April 4 to talk about the first two projects, while the third will likely be folded into a broader discussion of a potential levy lid lift.

The city will consider other projects as well: a remodel or expansion of the Thrift Shop, an emergency lockdown program for the Community and Event Center, a remodel of the City Council chambers, shoreline restoration at Luther Burbank and open space vegetation management, among others.

Several council members felt that they did not have enough data to make a decision. The capital improvement program will be outlined again on June 20 before the council enters budget discussions in the fall. Changes to the program will need to be finalized on Nov. 21, Corder said.

The dock at Groveland represents a safety concern for the city, said Maintenance Director Jason Kintner. It is “safe for current use,” but nearing a decision point, he said.

“If we felt it was unsafe, we would close it,” said City Attorney Kari Sand.

This project was budgeted in 2015-2016 for $990,000, but the 30 percent design cost estimate of almost $1.5 million put the project on hold.

“Moving forward with a ‘like for like’ replacement is not an option given the revised cost of this project, unless a new funding source is approved,” according to the council agenda bill.

The budget for the Island Crest lights project is $500,000. Another project at the same park, replacing the South turf fields for a cost of $1.29 million, was yanked after the last budget process in 2014. Then, the city learned it had received a $500,000 grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) in July 2015 for the project, putting it back on the docket.

Those funding decisions lie in the capital improvement fund, but five other funds were discussed at the meeting: street, technology and equipment, water, sewer and storm water.

Water is the highest level of investment, at $3.4 million per year. Funds are raised from water rates and connecting charges, and spent on watermain replacements and system improvements. The sewer and storm water funds are also rate dependent.

Real estate excise tax (REET) is split 50/50 between the street fund and capital improvement fund. Corder recommended revising that split to 45/55, as the street fund can be balanced with the recently-enacted annual vehicle license fees and raised fuel taxes. The $20 license fees bring in $350,000 per year, and could raise more if they are raised to $35, an option the state Legislature recently approved.

Corder said he was trying to balance the budget for 2017-18 assuming no new revenue, which the council agreed with, though they couldn’t reach a consensus on other issues.

Councilmember Dan Grausz suggested combining the capital projects for a levy lid lift request and going to the voters for approval. Corder said he was “intrigued” by the idea.

The council will continue to discuss budget issues at its mini planning session in June.