INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE Valley Stream’s infrastructure planning balances immediate service delivery with long-term resilience, addressing the typical municipal challenge of maintaining aging systems with limited resources. For suburban communities nationwide, infrastructure maintenance costs often outpace property tax growth by 3-5% annually, creating fiscal pressure for village governments. “Any municipality nationwide deals with these infrastructure issues, and you must be proactive,” says Mayor Fare.“Valley Stream has 90 miles of roadway. When we properly repave a road, including curb to curb, aprons, sidewalks, it costs $1 million a mile. With our $40 million budget, we can’t overhaul every road at once, but we ensure we do five to seven miles every year to stay ahead of the curve.” The village prioritizes responsive maintenance programs that address small issues before they become major problems. “We have apps on our phones connected directly to the village where you report a pothole, and it’s filled that same day”, explains Mayor Fare. Education represents another crucial infrastructure component in Valley Stream’s development vision. The village is exploring partnerships with higher 46 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 05
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