CHAMPAIGN — The city of Champaign is working towards adopting a new budget for the next fiscal year.
On Tuesday night, officials presented the city council with a proposed budget calling for $254.7 million in expenditures, estimating $225 million in revenue.
The budget memo includes $17 million in new expenses, with about $600,000 of that amount for expenses related to the city’s vehicle fleet. The increased spending would go towards multiple initiatives, including support for gun violence prevention programs, three additional firefighters, and a new homelessness and community services manager position.
“While we prepare thoughtfully for the demands of tomorrow, this budget proposal invests in people who deliver high quality services as staff or service demands have grown, addresses longstanding city facility and infrastructure needs, and also reinforces our commitment to supporting residents who are facing some of the greatest challenges in our community,” Champaign City Manager Joan Walls told the council.
The spending proposal would also set aside funding for several capital improvements.
The city plans to spend $825,000 to install a new traffic signal at Mattis and Sangamon Avenues Iin order to improve pedestrian safety. In addition, $2.5 million would be set aside for the Park Avenue Reconstruction project in downtown Champaign, which aims to make the space between Randolph and Neil Street more pedestrian-friendly.
Councilmember Kathy Shannon said she thinks the proposed spending plan strikes the right balance.
“This is a really thoughtful budget in that it’s looking to take care of our increased needs, but also increase our revenue and decrease our costs,” she added. “And at the same time, adding reserves for homeless support, because we know the needs have been growing dramatically over the past several years.”
The city will take input from residents over the next month and is expected to adopt a budget in June.
Additional funding for Strides shelter to operate through June
Officials also voted to allocate $350,000 to help the Strides low-barrier homeless shelter continue operating through June.
The shelter has long had funding challenges, with voters in the City of Champaign Township rejecting two referendum votes that would have increased property taxes to keep the space running. It previously operated through temporary COVID-19 relief funds that have dwindled.
City of Champaign Township Supervisor Charlene Murray said volunteers recently completed beautification projects to improve its spaces for staff and shelter guests. She said multiple community members and area businesses have come out to support the township and provide meals for volunteers and guests.
“There are more beautification projects to come because there’s still a lot of work to be done, but I just wanted to publicly thank some people and let folks know that when you come out and you help us, you make big changes for our people and our staff,” Murray said.