A planned project to erect donated lights at Diekroeger Park in Wright City will be delayed due to budget constraints.

At last Thursday’s board of aldermen meeting, city officials said they don’t have the financial means to contribute to the project.

 The Wright City Chamber of Commerce had initially proposed to fund the project, estimated to be around $12,000, but recently asked the city if it had funds available to contribute to some of the expense.

The lights were donated to the city and Chamber from the Wright City R-II School District. They were available after voters approved a $3.5 million bond issue to upgrade the high school athletic complex.

Chamber and city officials hoped the addition of the lights would enable Diekroeger Park to be  used for Strassenbash and other park events. Currently, no lights or electricity are available in the southern portion of the park.

Alderman Jim Schuchmann said the parks department budget was reviewed, but an unexpected rise in expenses, mainly due to the city taking over the operations of the Ruge Park concession stand, is keeping the city from moving forward with the project.

“Frankly, we don’t have the dollars there to spend on it right now,” Schuchmann said. “We’re kind of in the same situation as the Chamber of Commerce. The downturn in the economy, while it hasn’t hit us as hard, we are on an extremely tight budget. At this time, the dollars just aren’t there.”

Schuchmann said the city should try to work the project into the 2011 budget.

Lights also were donated to be used at the smaller ballfield at Ruge Park. Parks Director Curt Kehoe said the cost to have those erected is around $3,000. The cost is significantly lower since light poles are already standing.

Even if the funding was available now, it would be unlikely the lights could be ready for this year’s Strassenbash festival, scheduled for Sept. 17-18.

Tax Rate Approved

The 2010 tax rate for residents in Wright City will be slightly higher compared to a year ago.

The board unanimously approved a tax rate of 79.25 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for real estate and personal property. The 2009 tax levy was 78.78 cents.

The 2010 tax rates include a levy of 46.54 cents for the general fund, 8.65 cents for the park fund, 17.28 cents for the street fund and 6.78 cents for the debt service fund.

The tax rate is expected to generate $369,430 in revenue.

The assessed valuation of real estate property was $40,341,816, while personal property was $6,273,943.

The personal property figure is nearly $300,000 less than in 2009.

A public hearing was held at last Thursday’s board meeting.