A Smarter Sequence

Medford’s streets and sidewalks need attention—no one disputes that. But paving over problems does not solve them. Beneath our feet lie water mains, sewer lines, and electrical conduits that date back decades. If we resurface roads now and dig them up again in five years to fix what is underneath, taxpayers will pay twice and endure months of rerouted traffic all over again. Paul J. Donato Jr. proposes a utilities first approach: repair and modernize the underground systems before the asphalt and concrete go down. Do the hidden work once, do the visible work next, and do both right the first time.

 

This moment is a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to align every layer of the city’s infrastructure on a single schedule. By coordinating water, sewer, and electrical upgrades (and laying power lines underground while trenches are open) Medford can boost resilience against storms, reduce outage risk, and free our skyline of hanging wires. A unified project plan means fewer road closures, a shorter overall construction window, and assets that will serve residents for decades. It is common‑sense planning: one dig, one disruption, one bill.

 

How We Pay for It

Big jobs require smart financing. Medford’s strong credit rating allows us to issue municipal bonds at favorable rates, spreading costs over the long service life of these improvements instead of burdening today’s budget. Paul is committed to exploring every funding avenue, including state and federal grants, but bonds offer the predictability needed to keep the project on time and on budget. Transparent oversight, clear milestones, and published audits will ensure every dollar works as hard as the residents who earned it.

 

Paul J. Donato Jr.’s infrastructure plan pairs fiscal responsibility with forward‑thinking strategy: fix what is below, finish what is above, and leave Medford stronger for the next generation.