LEWISTON – If Congress sets aside money to stimulate the national economy, Lewiston wants to get its share.

The city is one of 153 municipalities in 43 states asking for a total of $89 billion in federal aid, part of a Main Street stimulus package proposed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Lewiston is the only Maine municipality to take part in the group’s funding request and one of only eight cities from New England.

“Our public infrastructure is falling apart and we depend on property taxes and excise taxes to pay for things,” Mayor Larry Gilbert said. “I think we need a stimulus package to help us out.”

The first draft of the Conference of Mayors’ wish list includes 4,591 projects across 10 categories, including energy infrastructure, community development and highway work, airport and train investments, schools, public housing and drinking water improvements.

Programs in the first draft would bring $24 billion to cities and towns and would create 256,407 jobs nationally, according to the mayors’ group.

Lewiston lists 31 capital works projects, including storm-water projects, repairs to city streets, upgrades to public housing, and heating and ventilation work at two Lewiston elementary schools. The list also includes $5 million for a passenger facility at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, three new buses for the Twin Cities’ Citylink bus system and a $500,000 bus-washing system.

In all, Lewiston’s wish list includes $35.7 million in capital investment.

“A lot of the things we’re proposing would … put people to work, doing the things we’ve fallen behind on because we haven’t been able to afford them,” Mayor Gilbert said.

President-elect Barack Obama has called on Congress to approve a broad economic stimulus bill before he takes office. It could include as much as $150 billion for bridge and road repairs. Obama has pledged to make those kinds of infrastructure investments after he’s sworn in, if the current Congress fails to act.