AGENDA #1
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TO: |
Mayor and Town Council |
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FROM: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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SUBJECT: |
Initial Public Forum on the Annual Budget, Capital Program, Use of Grants and Related Items and Potential Legislative Requests |
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DATE: |
January 30, 2008 |
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide background information for the Council’s public forum tonight.
We suggest that the Council receive comments tonight in a combined forum format in which citizens may make comments regarding any of the forum topics.
Through the Town"s annual budget process, the Town Council makes decisions on the level and types of services provided to citizens with local, State and federal funds.
Adoption of a budget determines in many respects the level of resources to be available for Town services over the coming budget year. Normally, there are limited options for adding to the budget after it is adopted.
The budget process is both one of the most important functions and responsibilities of the Council and a key opportunity for citizens" participation in Town government.
Additional public forums and hearings on the budget and related items will be held at 7:00 p.m. on:
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March 26 - |
Status report on development of a budget, preliminary capital program and proposed grant applications related to housing and community development. |
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May 14 - |
Recommended budget for the service year beginning on July 1, 2008; use of transit grants; recommended 15-year capital program; Downtown Service District program. |
Citizens may also make comments to the Mayor and Council by letter, fax, or e-mail at any time in the budget process.
Notice of the budget forum was published in the Chapel Hill News on January 20th and 27th as was additional notice specifically concerning Community Development funds. We mailed or e-mailed notices to community groups on January 25. Notice has also been provided on the Town’s website beginning on January 18th.
Information on each topic for the forums tonight is provided below.
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That the Council refer comments and questions to boards and commissions and to the Manager for consideration and recommendations in the budget process.
This forum provides an opportunity for citizens to comment on any aspect of the Town"s budget and budget documents, including services that should be added, eliminated or changed. The Town"s 2008-2009 budget and service year will begin on July 1, 2008 in accord with State law.
The annual budget includes funding for operating costs for police and fire protection, street maintenance, refuse collection, various other public works services, parks and recreation, public transit, the public library, planning, building inspection, engineering, legal and administrative services.
The annual budget includes one year"s funding for cash-financed small projects such as sidewalks, greenways, street paving, as well as debt service payments on other capital projects.
In addition to setting Town service levels and property tax rates, the Council makes decisions on whether to adjust or adopt service fees for refuse collection, recreation programs, transit, development review, inspections and other services as part of the budget.
On March 26th, the Council will hold a public forum at which we will submit to the Council a status report on preparing the 2008-2009 budget. After presentation of the report, the forum will provide an opportunity for comments and requests from citizens or community groups regarding the budget status report, or any aspects of the Town’s budget for 2008-2009.
On April 28th, we will submit a recommended budget for the Council"s consideration and invite comments by citizens at a public hearing scheduled for May 14th. The Council"s adopted budget process, with amendments proposed on January 30, 2008, includes consideration of adopting a budget on June 9th.
The purpose of this forum is to receive citizens" suggestions and comments regarding capital projects proposed for the next 15 years.
A capital improvements program is a plan for major projects and purchases including:
The Town’s capital programs have typically included a list of capital projects with cost estimates, a potential schedule and priorities for 15 years, and existing or potential future funding methods for each project.
Identified funding sources may include current general revenues, money previously reserved for capital projects, grants, gifts and bond issues.
Many projects in the first year of the capital program normally are funded as part of the annual budget. Projects in the second through fifteenth years are normally not funded in the budget for the next year, although some may be financed through past bond issues, installment purchase contracts and other sources. Funding for most projects in the second through fifteenth years is considered in future annual processes.
Each year, the Town Council, citizens, boards and commissions, and staff consider the Town"s capital project needs and possible funding sources for needed projects.
This process results in decisions by the Town Council regarding capital improvements that the Town may undertake as funding becomes available and is appropriated.
We have not yet established estimates of the amounts which may be allocated for capital projects. In the current 2007-2008 budget year, $1,296,200 was allocated to the annual capital improvement fund. In 2008-2009, $673,100 will be required to make finance payments for projects already under contract.
A summary of the current capital program and long-range projections as adopted by the Council for 2007-2022 is attached as background information (please see Attachment 1).
We will submit to the Council a preliminary capital program for 15 years as a part of the Status Report on March 26. The Council normally refers the preliminary capital program to various Town boards for review and comment. We recommend that the Council do so this year.
A public forum to receive citizens" comments on the preliminary capital program is scheduled for March 26th.
Various boards and commissions will make recommendations to the Council regarding capital projects. We will submit a recommended capital program on April 28th for a public hearing on May 14th.
The Council normally adopts a Capital Improvements program in June as part of overall decisions on the budget.
The purpose of this forum is to receive citizens" comments on how the Town should use federal Community Development grant funds in 2008-2009.
All citizens" comments received in writing and at public hearings will be compiled and addressed in a Community Development plan to be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in May.
Interested parties should contact the Planning Department for an application for funding.
The Town receives a federal grant each year to benefit low- to moderate-income families through projects such as:
Attachment 2 provides a summary of the ways in which Community Development grants can be used.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not yet informed us of the amount of the Town’s 2008-2009 Community Development grant. The 2007-2008 Community Development grant was $596,282. A decrease in funding is anticipated.
On April 23, 2007, the Council adopted a plan for using 2007-2008 Community Development funds. The 2007-2008 plan focuses on public housing rehabilitation, community services activities, comprehensive housing rehabilitation, and homeownership assistance.
Citizens will have an opportunity to comment on a proposed 2008-2009 Community Development Plan at a public forum scheduled for March 26, 2008.
On April 28, 2008, we plan to recommend that the Council consider a 2008-2009 Community Development Plan.
The purpose of this forum is to receive citizens’ comments on using the 2008-2009 Housing Capital Funds Grant.
The Town may use the annual Housing Capital Funds Grant for renovating and otherwise improving public housing neighborhoods, and for services to public housing residents.
Federal rules give priority to work needed to meet requirements such as:
The 2007-2008 grant was $582,697. We have not received notice of the amount for 2008-09, but estimate that it will be somewhat lower.
Current grant funds are being used primarily for renovations of 11 apartments in the North Columbia Street neighborhood.
The forum tonight provides an opportunity for citizens to comment on how to use 2008-2009 federal HOME program funds in Chapel Hill and throughout Orange County.
Please contact the Planning Department or the Orange County Department of Housing and Community Development for an application for funding.
Congress established the HOME program in 1992 to fund various housing services to benefit low-income families. HOME funding is in addition to Community Development grants, federal rental assistance, and grants for public housing operations and improvements.
Attachment 4 provides a summary of the ways under which HOME Program funds can be used.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has not yet informed the HOME Consortium of the amount of the 2008-2009 grant. There will be a local match requirement for these funds. As in past years, we will propose to use funds from the Housing Loan Trust Fund for the Town’s portion of local match. If we receive funding of the same amount for 2008-2009 as in the current year, we estimate that the Town’s share of the match could be approximately $60,000. However, it is possible that federal funding will be reduced for 2008-2009.
In 1992, the governing boards of Carrboro, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Orange County formed a consortium to receive HOME funds. Orange County is the lead agency in administering the HOME program.
In 2007-2008, the HOME program in Orange County totaled $1,280,032. This amount includes the grant award ($661,229), the local matching funds and funds reallocated from previous years.
In accord with an agreement signed in 2002, the local matching funds requirements (in accordance with 2000 Census population figures) are as follows:
This year HOME funds have been budgeted primarily for property acquisition, homeownership assistance, new construction, rental assistance and operational assistance.
In May 2005, the Orange County HOME Consortium consisting of the Town, Orange County, Carrboro and Hillsborough submitted a new Consolidated Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development covering fiscal years 2005-2006 thorough 2009-2010. The purpose of the Plan is to identify and prioritize the housing and community development needs for Chapel Hill and Orange County, and to suggest how the Town and the County will address the needs over a five-year period. Each year, the participating jurisdictions update the Plan to include an annual Community Development and HOME Program Plan, establish priorities for use of funds, and also include a description of housing and community development initiatives and programs in Orange County. The Plan is submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in May of each year. This year’s Plan will be submitted on May 15, 2008.
In 2000, the participating governments established a HOME Program Review Committee that consists of elected officials and staff representatives from Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. This Committee will prepare a proposed plan for using HOME funds. The Council will hold a public forum on the proposal on March 26th. In February, the Board of Orange County Commissioners will also hold a public hearing to receive citizen comment on the proposed plan. The 2008-2009 HOME program must be approved by the Town Council, the Orange County Commissioners, and the Hillsborough and Carrboro Boards of Aldermen prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
On April 28, 2008, we will ask the Council to consider a plan for use of these funds.
The forum tonight is an opportunity for citizens to comment on transit services and projects in 2008-2009 including the use of federal and State grants for transit operations, capital projects and transportation planning.
Transportation services, projects and planning activities are intended to provide alternatives to the use of single-occupant vehicles, reduce traffic congestion, reduce air pollution and assist people with disabilities affecting their mobility.
For 2008-2009, federal funding for transit services is estimated to be about $1.2 million and State funding is estimated to be about $3.5 million.
The University and Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill have agreed to share the local cost for transit services. The cost-sharing formulas are set forth in separate contracts with the University and Carrboro.
Chapel Hill Transit provides:
Staff will present the budget to the Transportation Board and Public Transit Committee in February, 2008.
Citizens will have an opportunity to comment on the transit budget and grants again at the Public Forum in the spring of 2008.
The purpose of this forum is to receive comments and suggestions from downtown business people, property owners and other interested citizens regarding:
In 1989, the Council established a Downtown Service District in response to requests from several downtown businesses and property owners.
State law allows the Council to establish this service district and to apply a supplemental property tax to promote the economic vitality of downtown, enhance Town services in the downtown district and other related activities.
Most of the property in the Downtown is in the zoning districts Town Center 1 or 2. Several properties used only for residential purposes are not in the service district.
We estimate that collections will remain about the same for the Downtown Service District in 2008-2009 as in 2007-2008, at $161,000.
Currently, downtown district funds are allocated to the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, to a grounds maintenance employee for the downtown and for a reserve for possible parking alternatives.
We will develop recommendations for use of the downtown district funds and for any changes in the service plan as part of the budget process this spring.
The Council will hold an additional forum on March 26th and a public hearing on May 14th.
The Council normally adopts the downtown district tax rate in June with the overall budget and makes decisions concerning services during June.
Tonight’s forum is also an opportunity for citizens and Council Members to propose potential legislative requests for the upcoming 2008 legislative session of the North Carolina General Assembly.
After hearing ideas from the public, the Council will have the opportunity at a future meeting to discuss these and any additional Council requests. As done in past years, we will arrange an opportunity to discuss legislative matters with our local legislative delegation before submitting the legislative requests to the delegation for consideration by the General Assembly. See Attachments 4 and 5 for the Council’s Legislative Proposals for 2006 and 2007, respectively.