Weirton council discusses CDBG budget
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WEIRTON -- Weirton Council gathered in a work session Thursday as part of efforts to craft the city's Community Development Block Grant budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Chris Fletcher, of Urban Design Ventures, noted the city has been allocated $400,000 for the CDBG program by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, receiving requests which initially included an extra $30,000 of allocations from city departments and community organizations.
Of those funds, a maximum of $80,336, or 20% of the budget, can go to administrative costs, with up to $60,252, or 15%, for social services.
"All of the public service applications are under the public service cap," Fletcher said, noting the same was true for administration costs.
Of the administrative requests, $70,000 was allocated to management of the CDBG funds, with $2,000 going toward the promotion of fair housing activities.
Under social services, council opted to allocate $20,000 to A Child's Place CASA, out of a request for just under $23,500, for their advocacy of abused and neglected children. In addition, the full request of $8,000 is set for the Weirton Christian Center to cover the cost of vehicle insurance.
Funds also will be made available for bus passes for low- to moderate-income residents.
Requests for money toward program and membership passes for the Weirton Park Board were eliminated after Parks Director Coty Shingle noted there were unused funds available.
The Park Board is receiving $15,000 toward the replacement of the handicap-accessible chairlift for the pool at the Millsop Community Center.
Shingle explained they didn't have an exact bid for the project, when asked if the request would cover the entire cost.
"If it's higher, we'll pay for it with Park Board capital improvement dollars which are already in the budget," Shingle said.
The remaining funds are to be allocated toward paving, which will include the installation of curb cuts required under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Fletcher noted the proposed CDBG budget will go on display for public review beginning today, with a 30-day period. Copies will be available at the Weirton Municipal Building, the Mary H. Weir Public Library and on the city's website, he said.
The budget will go before council for its consideration on July 8.