2018-2019 Adopted Budget

City Manager’s Budget Message

“Connections 2025,” Greensboro’s comprehensive plan is the City’s primary growth policy document. The comprehensive plan update process is underway with the completion of a Data Book and Conditions and Trends Report. Next steps include a variety of public discussions, online citizen engagements and focus groups. A comprehensive plan update should be completed by the end of 2018. The City of Greensboro continues to stay focused on the development of water and sewer infrastructure for the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite project. This regional and public/private project will develop approximately 1,500 acres of land in northern Randolph County with expectations of landing one or more advanced manufacturing companies, creating jobs and significant capital investment. In continuance of investing in our community and employees, we plan to open an Office of Equity and Inclusion. The goal is that through better alignment of resources, we will continue to enhance efforts to ensure our workforce reflects the community’s labor force demographics and improve our culture within the City to be more equitable and inclusive for all. Additionally, this office will continue to improve opportunities for Minority and Women owned businesses to participate in our various procurement activities. The MWBE program is a critical element of the City’s economic development initiatives. Griffin & Strong, PC has completed an updated disparity study analyzing procurement activities from FY 11- 12 through FY 15-16. City Council will be asked to consider recommendations for enhancements to the MWBE Program in early FY 18-19. During FY 17-18, the Police Department continued its focus on increasing community collaboration and partnerships to address crime trends, improving police facilities, and ensuring the department remains at the forefront of innovative police initiatives. The department continues to work with community stakeholders on the Safer City Summit initiative, a community grass roots collaborative addressing violent crime. There is also a concerted effort to work with Guilford County partners in addressing the opioid crisis through education and identifying community resources and programs to better assist those experiencing opioid-related addictions and life-threatening overdoses. “Promote public safety and reduce crime.” The Department launched its first year of the “Students Overcoming Situations” program in partnership with the Greensboro Police Foundation and Guilford County Schools to teach the value of

safety and decision making through social and emotional learning competencies. To date the program has engaged over 850 first and fifth grade students from various schools throughout the city.

Fire Station #63, to be located on Burlington Road, will open during FY 18-19.

“Maintain infrastructure and provide sustainable growth opportunities.”

Greensboro residents passed bond referenda in 2006, 2008 and 2009 authorizing borrowing of more than $228 million for streets, fire stations, parks and other improvements. Much of these projects are complete with the remainder, mostly street improvements, scheduled for the next two to three years. The $25 million construction contract for improvements to Horsepen Creek Road (widening from New Garden Road to Battleground Avenue) was awarded in December 2017. Utilities are being relocated and construction will begin soon on the City’s largest roadway improvement project. Major intersection improvements at Battleground Avenue/ Cone Boulevard and Battleground Avenue/New Garden Road are nearing completion. Major intersection improvements at Guilford College Road/West Market Street are under construction. Intersection improvements at Battleground Avenue/ Westridge Road will begin later this year. The $7 million roadway and sidewalk improvements to Holt’s Chapel Road and Lowdermilk Street are underway. This year, sidewalk construction projects of $13.6 million are underway or planned in all five council districts. The City is on schedule to install more than 100 miles of sidewalk and 75 miles of bike lanes over the next ten years. Progress on the Downtown Greenway continues, with sections from Eugene Street to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and in the Eugene Street/Smith Street/Fischer Avenue area complete. Phase 2, along Murrow Boulevard, will begin later this year. Design plans are nearing completion on the $7.5 million Summit Avenue Streetscape project, the $4.8 million East Vandalia Road sidewalk/roadway improvement project, and the $4.3 million Alamance Church Road sidewalk/roadway improvement project. The 2016 successful bond referendum included $34.5 million for new parks capital improvements. $5 million are programmed for the initial development of the Battleground Parks District, an innovative concept that will integrate the current recreation options at the City’s Country Park with nearby Guilford Courthouse Military Park and the Greensboro Science Center. $3 million for city-wide

Adopted FY 2018-19 Budget

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