TheBurg

8 | THEBURGNEWS.COM | 06.21 SketchBURG // By Lawrance Binda & Brad Gebhart. Harrisburg's fiscal condition is "sound" and its budget is in surplus, according to a largely positive annual report issued by the city's financial oversight body. e Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority for Harrisburg (ICA) issued its second annual report last month to the governor and legislature, stating that the city is in generally good financial shape. "e report acknowledges a number of areas where progress has been made, while also identifying several priorities for improvement in fiscal management," according to an ICA press release. In 2018, the state created the ICA to oversee the creation of a five-year financial plan for Harrisburg. e 26-page report submitted on Friday is substantially more positive than last year's annual report, which robustly criticized the city for several alleged financial and accounting deficiencies. Some of those criticisms—including a "low collection rate" in accounts receivable in the city's Neighborhood Services Fund (sanitation), an outmoded IT infrastructure and a long-delayed audit of the city government's physical assets—remain in the 2021 report. FINANCIAL REPORT MOSTLY POSITIVE e circle is now complete, as Harrisburg cut the ribbon on the final stretch of sidewalk expansion around the state Capitol. Last month, city officials unveiled a new ADA-accessible length of sidewalk on N. 3rd Street surrounding the building. About a decade ago, the state expanded the narrow strip of concrete that long surrounded much of the Capitol along Walnut and N. 3rd streets, constructing a full-sized walk. However, it left the job unfinished near the front of the building. e newly reconstructed sidewalk extends the full-sized, 10-foot- wide walk from State Street to North Street, completing the loop around the building. e sidewalk expansion removed parking spaces along the street. However, that parking loss was made up last year, when the city built additional angled parking spaces and electric vehicle charging stations in front of the State Museum. Across the street, at a bus stop near the intersection at North and 3rd streets, a bump out from the sidewalk also was added. City Engineer Wayne Martin said that this will increase safety for riders by making it easier for them to board the bus. ADA- accessible ramps were added to the sidewalks, as well. e state Department of General Services helped the city fund the sidewalk project. SIDEWALK WIDENING FINISHED Heard on TheBurg Podcast "It's so popular and so well received by everyone, I think if it can, it will continue in some form beyond 2021." Todd Vander Woude EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HARRISBURG DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, ON "SATURDAY NIGHTS IN THE CITY"

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