Lynchburg City Council to weigh budget amendments

Lynchburg City Council will meet today to hold what could be the last of its budget deliberations.

Officials have already whittled down the bulk of their suggested budget amendments, although a few high-profile items remain on the docket.

Remaining topics of discussion include the fate of the Ivy Creek Park project, a possible reduction in downtown revitalization funding and a proposal to shut off downtown’s Langley Fountain.

Officials will also continue their debate about the capital improvements plan, which provides a blueprint for major projects and purchases over the next five years.

The school board recently pushed back plans for improving Heritage High School at the request of the city, which cited concerns about its ability to pay.

The schools had proposed last winter that significant Heritage High spending begin by the 2010-11 school year. An alternate plan proposed by the city and approved by the school board last week calls for the district to get $1 million for preliminary engineering work in 2014.

In addition to that, however, the district has requested another $1 million to make pressing repairs to the existing high school. Educators are seeking to get that money during the 2009-10 school year.

City Manager Kimball Payne, speaking early Monday afternoon, said he had not yet seen the school board’s proposal.

He said he did not immediately know if the city could shoulder an additional $1 million, but added it might be possible if the city secures a favorable interest rate when it moves ahead with a planned bond issuance this summer.

“We’re going to have to play it by ear and see how things go,” he said.

Securing a favorable interest rate would reduce the city’s debt burden, giving them greater options when it comes to considering new capital expenditures.

City Council is scheduled to approve the city’s new budget next month. The new fiscal year takes effect July 1.

In an effort to cut costs and offset shrinking tax revenues, council members have proposed pulling funding for Ivy Creek Park, a project that would bring the city its first new park in years. Members have also proposed temporarily reducing the annual allocation for downtown revitalization work, as well as shutting off Langley Fountain.

The latter would generate relatively little savings, but would be a high-profile symbol of the city’s commitment to trimming the fat from its budget.

A majority of council has already agreed to move ahead with a handful of budget amendments, including rescinding a $2,000 raise council members approved for themselves in late 2007, restoring full funding for school crossing guards and restoring full funding for the downtown library.

Those items are still subject to change until the final budget document is approved. Council will meet at 1 p.m. today in City Hall, 900 Church St.