The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has set its budget for the second draw from the more than $18 million in capital improvement bonds.

And its priorities are where they should be.

The bulk of the $9.07 million in capital improvement funds, $4.136 million, will go to pay for paving city streets in the North and South wards, and completing two long-awaited projects — the demolition of the Kemp Bottom Road bridge, which collapsed in July, and to pay the city’s share of relocating water, gas and sewer lines along South Frontage Road. The South Frontage Road project is the final phase in the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s plans to link the east and west sides of South Frontage, opening up some land for future development and creating a direct route to the Outlets at Vicksburg, hotels and restaurants on East Clay Street.

The South Ward paving projects include a section of Halls Ferry Road, and the resurfacing of Pemberton Square Boulevard, which has been patched and re-patched over the years.

Paving in the North Ward includes 10 streets, all of which have been affected by damaged water and sewer lines.

“These are streets where we have fixed problems with the utilities under the road,” North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said. “These streets were rutted and sinking; we went in and found the broken and leaking lines and fixed them, now we’re ready to pave those sections.”

The budget also includes $1 million for improvements in the Kings community and $4 million for parks and recreation. City officials are waiting to hear from Kings residents on their project suggestions.

The parks and recreation budget includes $640,000 for the farmers’ market pavilion at the corner of Washington and Jackson streets, which has been in the planning phases since 2016, and $740,000 for the pro shop at the Halls Ferry Park tennis courts.

The pro shop will include handicap accessible restrooms and other amenities to make the park’s tennis courts more attractive to state tournaments.

The budget also includes $300,000 for riverfront improvements like improved lighting and benches.

“We ought to be able to go to work on everything,” Mayor George Flaggs said after Friday’s board work session on the budget.

The plan and the money are now in place. No time for excuses. It’s time for the city to get to work.