Residents of Chapel Hill attended a public forum Monday to hear the town’s ideas for this upcoming fiscal year, including the town's annual budget.
Kenneth C. Pennoyer, the director of business management, conducted a presentation explaining various projections and challenges to the budget.
The major forum topics were the annual budget, capital program, community development block grant, federal HOME program funding, housing capital funds program funding, public transportation grants, the downtown service district and potential legislative proposals.
Pennoyer explained each of these topics by focusing on the process and status. Each of these topics will help the council’s goals including nurturing the community, creating a place for everyone, supporting community prosperity and developing good and new spaces.
"As we get additional info through the budget process we hope to update those goals and hopefully we’ll have some give and take where those budget goals may change or be prioritized,” Pennoyer said.
Public transportation grants were a key interest in Pennoyer’s presentation. Funding for these grants include transportation services to provide alternatives to the use of single-occupant vehicles, reducing traffic congestion, reducing air pollution and assisting people with disabilities which affect their mobility.
The federal funding for public transportation grants is expected to be $1.9 million while state funding is expected to be $2.4 million. Pennoyer emphasized that estimating the funding received for this grant would be difficult because of the changing dynamics in the state economy.
There is also currently a 7.1 cent property tax for improvements to the downtown area. This tax is implemented to preserve the vibrancy of the downtown area and to help small and local businesses. The projected funding for the downtown district is $277,000. This projection is an increase of $5,000 since the last fiscal year.
Pennoyer went on to explain that the budget committee has created a list of next steps for the downtown district area. On March 21 there will be a solicitation of input meeting where residents and owners of small businesses can give their feedback on what they think can be improved.
The next step will be a bidding process that Pennoyer and his team thought was necessary to provide a competitive process to acquire more funding. The town can then determine which private company wants to help the downtown area the most and have a part in helping to improve it.
Noteable:
March 21 will be the next Town Council meeting concerning the budget process. It will provide a chance for the public to provide their feedback on projections and advice of the budget committee, and what particular areas need revising for this fiscal year.
It was also announced that the public has the opportunity to offer their opinion on the budget process not only at the scheduled public forums, but also by letter, fax and email.
city@dailytarheel.com
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