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The borough will submit a post-Christmas wish list to the federal government today in an effort to tap funding that may become available after the inauguration of President-elect Barrack Obama.

Local emergency, school and infrastructure facilities due for upgrades may receive federal funding as part of a federal stimulus package proposed by Obama.

Senator-elect Mark Begich held a teleconference Dec. 22 with state leaders, including Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Dave Carey, explaining that an anticipated $800 billion may become available nationally as part of an effort to pull the country out of its current economic recession.

"The No. 1 issue of the stimulus is immediate job creation," Carey said.

By initiating projects related to energy, education, health, the most vulnerable, transportation and infrastructure, communities could use federal dollars to make necessary upgrades and create jobs at the same time.

The borough has six projects, prioritized by importance, for which it will seek funding. According to Carey, Begich requested that the various state leaders, many of whom were city mayors, only submit proposals for help on three projects.

"We cover an area the size of West Virginia, I feel it's appropriate that we do more," Carey said, of submitting six proposals.

Carey explained that only "shelf ready" projects were included, meaning the projects are ready to go.

Additionally, the wish list consists only of projects that already have local and state tax dollars invested into them.

At the top of the list is for $4.2 million of the $5.6 million needed for the Bear Creek Fire Station and Multi-Use Facility in Seward. The project would create 98 short-term jobs and five long-term jobs.

Second is for $1.8 million of the $2,776,656 needed for elementary school upgrades. This includes re-roofing at Ninilchik, Soldotna and McNeil Canyon in Homer as well as energy efficiency improvements at Soldotna. The projects would create 48 short-term jobs and five long-term jobs.

Carey said originally the school projects were considered separate. Given their relative importance and the need to submit only a limited number of proposals, however, they were joined together as one large project.

The third project requests $5 million of the $8,375,000 needed for the Nikiski Fire Station Number Two Building replacement. Five long-term jobs and 146 short-term jobs would be created.

The fourth project asks for $2,633,616 of the $2,703,616 needed for solid waste transfer container replacement and wildlife resistance upgrades, creating 45 short-term jobs and two long-term jobs.

Fifth on the list is for $200,000 of the $250,000 needed to install an arsenic removal system at Nikiski North Star Elementary School, creating three short-term jobs and one long-term job.

The last request is for $164,807 of the $1.1 million needed for the Tyonek teacher housing project, creating 19 short-term jobs and two long-term jobs.

Carey said he was unsure what projects on the borough's wish list were likely to receive approval.

Money may be parsed out through formulas that could disadvantage the state, he explained. If, for example, money is distributed on a per-capita basis, the state's small population would be entitled to only a small amount of the stimulus package.

For this reason, Carey said he tried to include projects such as the solid waste transfer container replacement and wildlife resistance upgrades, to show that the needs of northern communities are different than those in the Lower 48.

"My hope is that the other 49 states will realize we have unique needs and will give us more than what might mathematically work out," Carey said.

Carey said he'd be surprised if all six projects on the wish list are approved, but is optimistic that this will be one of many stimulus packages in the coming years.

Additionally, he believes that because all the borough's proposed projects are infrastructure related, they stand a good chance of receiving attention, if not in this round, then possibly later.

"Every project is valid and indeed are ready to go. I'm hopeful because they are so real," he said.

Carey was already looking ahead to other improvements he can see deserving attention in the near future.

He said he was disappointed that Gov. Sarah Palin did not include money for three structurally deteriorated bridges on the Seward Highway on her list of state projects deserving federal support.

The three bridges, spanning Ptarmigan Creek, Falls Creek and Trail River, all have reduced speed limits of 20 miles per hour now compared to the regular 55, to lessen the associated stress of passing vehicles.

"I mention that from standpoint that maybe in next phase we can focus more on roads," Carey said.

Regardless of how many projects are approved in this round or in future rounds, Carey said any money that comes from the federal government would reduce the burden on local taxpayers in completing these projects.

Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com.