On Tuesday, Lake Alfred voters will choose between incumbent Lowell Schmidt and challengers Albertus Maultsby and Rodney Thompson.

The first set of questions dealt with the proposed Community Redevelopment Area.

The CRA would be a section of the city designated for redevelopment, with the goal of attracting new businesses.

All of the candidates said the CRA is a good idea, but they also said more study needs to be done.

Maultsby said the CRA is needed, but with the current downturn in the economy, the city shouldn't go forward with the CRA at this time.

Schmidt said he's not opposed to the CRA, but he wants to wait and see what property tax revenue will come to the city in the next year.

Thompson said the CRA is important and shouldn't be dismissed, because businesses are closing in the city.

"What do we have to offer to businesses?" Thomspon asked.

Thompson also said many business owners are waiting to improve their properties until they know what's going to happen with U.S. Highway 17-92.

The widening of U.S. 17-92 is a project that's been on and off again with the Florida Department of Transportation, but work on it is scheduled to start later this year.

"This will open opportunities for existing businesses," Schmidt said.

Maultsby said he hopes that with the widening of the highway, more businesses will move to Lake Alfred.

The inevitable tax cuts that cities around Polk County are facing this year was another topic brought up at the forum.

Schmidt said that though city departments have had to tighten budgets previously, they'll have to do it again this year.

Maultsby said it's important to figure out how to live within the city's means and work with what the city has.

"We're in a downturn now, but Americans have a way of figuring out what's wrong and straighten it out," Maultsby said. "I think this thing will work its way out in a couple of years."

Thompson hopes more money can be saved by the city 'going green' and saving on energy costs.

"It can't happen all at once, but piece by piece it can," Thompson said.

shelly.godefrin@newschief.com