Oxford City Council and Talawanda School District will decide March 17 whether or not the city will provide $505,000 for infrastructure improvements for the yet-to-be-constructed Talawanda High School.

Oxford City Manager Doug Elliott said council members and Talawanda School District representatives will hold a workshop before the meeting to discuss preliminary costs for the improvements. The final decision to approve the funding will be made at the meeting.

According to Elliott, one of the main concerns of the improvement requests is funding to extend and widen University Park Boulevard to the school's property line. Elliott said the funding for the extension is the only disputed item on the list and is estimated to cost $239,000.

"It is up in the air whether or not we are going to participate on this item," Elliott said.

Elliott said the city does not have a specific bond to finance the road extension. The only way would be to use capital improvement funds, which would not leave much money for other needed city street improvements.

Talawanda School District officials also asked the city to fund a lift station for a sewer, construct turn lanes from U.S. Route 27 to University Park Boulevard, pour sidewalks along U.S. Route 27 and University Park Boulevard to the Talawanda School District property line and insert a traffic light at the intersection of the two roads.

"That decision will need to be made on Tuesday," Elliott said.

Talawanda School District Superintendent Phil Cagwin said the off-site improvements will benefit both the city and the new school.

"I believe strongly that the new high school will enhance the quality of life for the entire community," Cagwin said.

Cagwin said once the contribution of the city is determined, the school district can finalize its building plans. The architect will then display a full presentation of the new high school building at a school board meeting in April.

"We service the same young community as Oxford ... it's a benefit to the whole community," Cagwin said.