Members of the Goldsboro City Council are reviewing City Manager Tim Salmon’s proposed 2020-21 budget this afternoon. We have attached the proposal — all 600-plus pages of it — below so local residents can see exactly where their tax dollars are being spent.
Here are some of the highlights:
• The total budget is $64,393,978
• The plan includes a 25% increase in water and sewer fees.
• Spending on non-profits would decrease 10% due to “funding constraints.”
• Funding would decrease for the following areas: Public Safety, General Government, Culture & Recreational and Transportation.
• Funding would increase for the following areas: Environmental Protection and Economic Development.
• No funding would be provided for the Summer Youth Employment Program as it has been put on hold because of COVID-19.
• The Fire Department has requested $4.1 million for the replacement of Station No. 3, a new fire truck and other equipment. That request was not represented in the spending plan.
• Several vehicle purchases would be made, including 16 for the Goldsboro Police Department.
• The Police Department would also get a new K-9 officer (at an expense of $11,315) to replace K-9 officer “Elvis,” who is retiring.
• New playground equipment would be installed at H.V. Brown or Berkeley Park.
• The city would “provide Cultural Diversity & Sensitivity Training” to all employees.
• The following organizations would get the following amounts:
- The Chamber of Commerce ($20,000)
- Wayne County Alliance ($25,000)
- Literacy Connections ($9,000)
- Rebuilding Broken Places ($13,500)
- HGDC Community Crisis Center ($4,500)
- Boys & Girls Club ($13,500)
- Arts Council ($22,500)
- Wayne County Schools ($27,400)
- WAGES ($18,000)
- W.A.T.C.H. ($18,000)
- Wayne County Museum ($13,500)
- Communities in Schools ($13,500)
- Mental Health Association ($12,000)
- Waynesboro Park ($18,000)
- GATEWAY ($200,000)
- Mephibosheth Project Inc. ($4,500)
- WISH ($9,000)
• The following organizations requested money, but are not represented in the budget:
- Three In One Family Center (Requested $40,000)
- A Drummers World Drumline Performing Arts School (Requested $2,500)
Here is the full packet: