To alleviate financial hardships on taxpayers, Mayor Gabriel J. Campana is proposing turning over control of the levee system to the city Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority.

It’s “very similar to how they do it in Sunbury in Northumberland County,” Campana said.

The cost of recertification and repair work on the levee, which protects the city from catastrophic flooding events, is estimated to climb to $15.8 million in five years, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

“The city taxpayers can’t afford the long-term financial burden of upgrading and maintaining the levee,” Campana said.

The proposal is part of Campana’s three-to-five-year financial plan, which he plans to present to council later this month. Details on the plan have not yet been presented to the authority boards or staff.

“I didn’t know that (about the plan), but I think we’re the right people to do it,” said Wendy Walter, authority director of compliance, safety and security.

Council has been made aware only of a team approach toward funding projects for the levee, including consultants working on obtaining state and federal grant money and other potential funding sources.

Walter said she accompanied Lycoming County planning officials when they visited the Sunbury system.

The trip was taken last Friday.

“It gave us a lot of good ideas,” Walter said. “Their authority does wastewater, stormwater and the levee.

“I’m sure the authority board will be open to listen,” she said.

Campana said the authority draws from a more regional customer base.

“I believe the issue is a regional one,” he said.

The county’s capital city is used by others for services and jobs are provided to city and non-city residents,” Campana said.

“It would be cost prohibited to have flood insurance,” Campana said. “I believe the regional authority is the course to take and believe it can be accomplished by the authority,” he said.