2023 Annual Comprehensive Report

bond referendum of $135 million builds on the progress already made. The 2022 referendum included $15 million for transportation, $14 million for firefighting facilities, $6 million for Police facilities, $30 million to continue implementation of the Housing GSO plan, and $70 million for parks and recreation projects. Increased annexations, continuous growth, and service costs put pressure on our water and sewer capacity, as well as our solid waste services. The FY 2023-24 budget includes a water and sewer rate increase of 8.5% for customers both inside and outside the city limits. This rate increase is important to continue to provide services to our customers at expected levels and to maintain the necessary capacity for planned growth of the city. With the projected increases, the City expects to maintain the second lowest water rates compared with our peers in North Carolina. The City will also provide assistance to our low income residents through multiple programs. The FY 2022-23 budget included the creation of a Public Transit Department and maintained a dedicated property tax rate of 3.5 cents to provide transit services to our residents. FY 2023-24 will continue to fund Greensboro Transit Agency (GTA) which recently launched a plan to re-imagine our transit future through 2045. This plan will be completed in early 2024 and will make recommendations for Council to consider for adoption and future funding of an expanded mobility system anchored by a robust transit network. GTA provides a vital transportation service that is a key component of our efforts to support economic development and opportunity, including a fleet of electric buses, the first for any North Carolina municipality. These efforts, combined with continued expansions to trails, greenways, and other alternates to transportation are essential to meeting Council goals. Further, through the American Rescue Plan Act enabled funding, GTA received $1 million to fund the launch of a trolley system on Elm Street in downtown Greensboro. The ARPA enabled funds will support a free route along the Elm Street corridor with support economic activities on Elm Street while connecting downtown visitors with a growing number of merchants and entertainment venues seven days a week. The pilot program seeks to improve downtown mobility and enhanced connectivity beyond the car – fulfilling one of the goals in the GSO2040 comprehensive plan of making our city car-optional. It imperative to continue providing safe and available parking, especially in downtown Greensboro and crucial to our downtown’s economic success. The City is currently undertaking a Center City Parking Plan study which will support meeting GSO2040 goals, address changes in parking demand, and provide a framework for decision making. This study is expected to conclude at the end of 2023 and will make recommendations for improved parking throughout the downtown area. This budget continues the $3.6 million in General Fund support for debt service costs related to the two new parking decks. The Eugene Street Deck opened in June 2021 providing 948 additional spaces for the north Eugene Street area. A second new deck is under construction in the downtown area with anticipated completion by early 2024.

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