It may look like the budget office’s $40 million projection for capital improvements in 2011—about twice as much as most other years—means Charlottesville has cash to burn. But don’t loosen those belts just yet. Take away the roughly $18.5 million of state and federal funds from the proposed $20 million bypass for 250 Interchange, and what’s left? About $20 million worth of suggestions for capital improvements—and, as the City Manager’s office cautioned the Planning Commission, a projected $2.8 million budget shortfall.
Until a “complete picture” of the budget—one that accounts for city revenues, as well as unfunded mandates and cuts from the State—becomes available, the Capital Improvement Program, a five-year to-do list of infrastructure projects, remains a work in progress.
Biscuit Run proffers would have generated some of the funds to pay for traffic improvement, pedestrian amenities, as well as upgrades to a storm water management system on Old Lynchburg Road in the city. But with the parcel sold to the state, that’s off.
The proposed program for fiscal year 2011 includes $300,000 for new sidewalks and $208,000 for their repair and improvement.
With a budget shortfall comes cuts in services. City Council ranks projects according to a set of criteria that weighs considerations like whether a project fits into the comprehensive plan, and the likelihood that a project will generate revenue. Neighborhood Services Director Jim Tolbert said that planners are looking to update these criteria used to rank projects before City Council decides in March which projects to fund. As for sidewalks, City Spokesman Ric Barrick said, “We have a limited budget on sidewalk repair and replacement but have a priority system which designates which areas get treated first depending on their age and condition.”
The five-year plan leaves the Belmont Bridge in funding limbo. Tolbert said that while engineering for the Bridge replacement has been funded, funds to build the bridge are not included in the budget’s program. Further, Barrick says it’s been suggested that state money be taken out of the Belmont Bridge replacement, which he says is “an obvious challenge we face.”
The $600,000 marked in 2011 for stormwater initiatives reflects the city’s efforts to upgrade the infrastructure. Barrick said that the city is looking to fund “more aggressive approach by creating rain gardens, more pervious surfaces so that the water goes into the soil and not the pipes, and other solutions to reduce run off and pollution.” City Council delayed a vote on the measures, but will likely face them again soon.
At its December 8 review of the Program, the Planning Commission was split on the issue of whether to strike 250 Interchange from the Capital Improvement Program; that vote stands as a recommendation to City Council, a day after Council approved by 3-2 a design of the controversial bypass.
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