Albert Lea residents will likely see a tax increase of 3 to 6 percent in 2016 to help fund city road improvement projects, according to city manager Chad Adams.

Adams presented the preliminary budget during a City Council work session Thursday night. A public hearing was held Monday night in connection with the budget.

Adams said the city is hoping the tax levy will be at about 3 percent to help taxpayers.

“As we have shown in our capital improvement plan and the community survey results, we haven’t been setting aside enough dollars for projects,” Adams said. “We’re trying to balance the amount of a tax increase that is proportionate to the projects we choose that improve the community.”

Adams said if taxes aren’t raised, roads would be left in worse condition.

“We have to continue to provide routine maintenance on our roads,” Adams said. “If you don’t maintain the roads we have, the roads will fall into a constant state of disrepair or reconstruction. This is the best long-term use of tax dollars.”

Maintaining and having good infrastructure relates to quality of life and economic development for businesses that need quality roads to transport goods, Adams said.

A councilman expressed concern Monday night over constituent response to the council’s economic practices.

“It bothers me a little bit that there is such a large concern from the community that we aren’t spending money wisely,”said Albert Lea City Sixth Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks. “We represent the people. It’s their money that we are spending. I just want the public to know that I take these things really seriously and we need to sit down and listen to the needs of our constituents.”

A lot of construction is slated for 2016, as well as in the years following, Adams said. Major capital projects included in the 2016 preliminary budget include Park Avenue reconstruction. Reconstruction will include the water, sewer mains and the road itself. Road reconstruction is planned for Lake Chapeau Drive. Lakeview Boulevard construction is planned from Hatch Bridge to Martin Road. Construction is also planned on  Edgewater Drive and the airport at the arrival and departure building. The city will be getting grant funding on the airport project from the state and federal aviation and transportation authorities, Adams said.

Adams expects less of a travel impact from construction in 2016.

Residents who will live in that area will be directly impacted, but not the general public, Adams said.

The city is seeing some new tax base growth for 2016, but not equivalent to the expected tax levy increase, Adams said.

The tentative schedule for the 2016 budget process includes:

• Aug. 11-13: Public input will be gathered at neighborhood picnics

• Aug. 20: Work session

• Sept. 14: Establish preliminary levy and budget

• October-November: Presentations and work sessions in relation with the budget,

• December: Final levy and budget adoption.