Carrboro Board of Aldermen discussed citizen survey and town budget in Tuesday's meeting

The Carrboro Board of Aldermen met Tuesday to discuss the results of the 2016 Town of Carrboro biennial citizen survey report and the town budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2017-18. Staff writer Lauren Talley live-tweeted the meeting. 

just when yall thought my Twitter could not get any more lively, tonight I will be live tweeting the Carrboro Board of Alderman Meeting pic.twitter.com/gBoVuJuJfT

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Mayor Lydia Lavelle opens meeting with recognizing the town of Carrboro for receiving the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Award is given by Govt. Finance Officers Association pic.twitter.com/tXBDnOO7Ob

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Town Clerk Catherine Dorando presents 2016 first ever Town of Carrboro Biennial Citizen Survey Report

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Survey consisted of 405 residents and conducted by telephone

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Respondents were "positive in their rating of Carrboro" giving the town a mean score of 7.95 on a 9 point scale

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

"Town government received high grades with no grade falling below a B+" -Catherine Dorando

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

"The fire department received the highest marks of all departments surveyed with no grade below an A" -Dorando

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

84% of respondents felt the BOA was effective in keeping Carrboro the place to be

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Dorando points out that US Congress has disapproval rating of 72.1%

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Within survey there were 50 comments on parking with 33 asking for more parking

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

The most significant area of concern by respondents was affordable housing

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Word of mouth was #1 way people accessed town information according to survey

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Daily Tar Heel is #10 source for town information

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Summary: the overall rating is an A-

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

"It's good to know that we have very diverse thinking and perception in response to what we do" -BOA member Bethany Chaney on survey

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

BOA member Damon Seils requests that next years survey respondent demographics better closely resemble 2010 Census demographics for town

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

BOA moves on to public hearing for community input on town budget for upcoming FY 2017-18

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Total revenue for town has increased by $3.3M in past 7 years

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Total expenses increased by $3.2 million in past 7 years

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Upcoming challenges for budget: OC is reevaluating property values, CHT Bus Replacement Program & funding for new/renovated town facilities

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Property taxes make up 57% of towns revenue but growth in property tax revenues has not kept pace w/ inflation

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Town Manager David Andrews comments additional revenues will be needed to keep pace w/ demand for town services

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Mayor Lavelle now opens floor for public comment on budget

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

BOA member Jacquelyn Gist expresses concerns over this saying the price falls on other homeowners

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Public hearing on budget now closes

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Meeting moves on to final agenda item: An Update of Economic Development Activities in Carrboro

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Upcoming approved commercial projects include Hilton Garden Inn and South Green (40,000 sq ft retail)

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Proposed commercial projects include a CVS and Arcade Building

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Upcoming special events for the year in Carrboro include "Not So Normal Race" and Carrboro Day

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Carrboro Tourism Development Authority has $25,000 in budget for print advertising and updating town photography

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

Meeting has adjourned thank you everyone for joining along on this wild local government ride pic.twitter.com/Or0zhZIIFL

— Lauren Talley (@LaurenTalley13) January 25, 2017

@laurentalley13

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