FY2023 Adopted Budget

programs. The City has also successfully created supplemental affordable housing revenue streams through fee-in-lieu and Tax Increment Financing strategies that will bolster our efforts in coming years. In 2021, the City purchased eight duplexes for affordable homeownership opportunities in the South District through these alternative revenue sources. The Fiscal Year 2023 budget includes rehabilitation funds for two of the duplex units. Other community development investments incorporated into this budget include funding for an overhaul of the City’s comprehensive plan and a 5% increase in the Historic Preservation Grant Program. Social Justice & Racial Equity: In recent years, City Council has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening social services in our community, including a notable expansion of the annual Aid to Agencies program. In Fiscal Year 2020, the Council doubled the Aid to Agencies budget, increased the amount again in Fiscal Year 2021, and applied a 3% increase in Fiscal Year 2022 with the expectation the Aid to Agencies program will receive this inflationary increase annually. Accordingly, this budget includes another 3% increase in local funds (+$84,808) to bring the total funding (federal and local) for the Aid to Agencies program to $800,058 in Fiscal Year 2023. Examples of other social justice initiatives found in this budget include: • Increased funding for the Social Justice and Racial Equity grant program by $25,000, bringing the total to $100,000 for Fiscal Year 2023. • Elimination of library fines for all patrons and increased bookmobile hours bringing library services to more geographic areas • Addition of an outreach budget for the Community Police Review Board • Accessibility improvements, including physical improvements to sidewalks and City parks and facilities and funding for the annual community ADA Celebration. • Bolstered funding for community partnerships and sponsored events, including Juneteenth and MLK Day celebrations • An additional $35,000 to expand the community’s crisis response efforts • Funds to complete fair housing testing to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local discrimination laws. • A new commitment of $25,000 in annual funding set aside to support BIPOC business growth and entrepreneurship. Parks & Recreation: Over $18 million in the five-year capital improvement plan is budgeted for parks and recreation projects, many implementing park and accessibility improvements recommended in the Parks Master Plan. The Fiscal Year 2023 CIP budget includes funding for playground and shelter improvements at Chadek Green Park and Court Hill Park, development of an off-road bike trail, and ecological restoration at Whispering Meadows. Funding is also earmarked to respond to recommendations from the Recreation Master Plan addressing major community interests, such as City aquatics facilities. Bike Master Plan: This budget also includes funding to continue implementation of the Bike Master Plan. In 2021, bike lanes were added on Muscatine Avenue between Burlington and Iowa and a series of bike boulevards in the eastside neighborhoods. Projects planned for 2022-2023 will significantly increase bike connectivity in the South District. Anticipated 2022 projects include

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