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Salisbury City Council adopts FY21 budget

Salisbury City Council approved the fiscal year 2020-2021 (FY21) budget as proposed by City Manager W. Lane Bailey. 
 
The $45,644,918 balanced General Fund budget reflects a 4.08% decrease in spending from the FY20 adopted budget due to expected shortages related to COVID-19. City Council voted to maintain the current tax rate of $0.7196 for FY21 as to not burden the Salisbury community in the midst of economic challenges. 

In addition to the General Fund, the Water/Sewer Fund, Transit Fund, Broadband Fund, and Stormwater Fund comprise the overall city budget totaling $82,139,831. This total sum also includes Special Revenue Funds (CDBG & HOME) and Capital Reserve Funds. 
 
Deep cuts were made to departmental budgets, and approximately $1.25 million in one-time capital projects have been deferred this year. The city’s Capital Improvement Plan (major capital projects) will be discontinued until a later date, and the budget does not include a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) or merit pay for employees. In addition, Fire Station 3 construction will be delayed. Despite cuts to the budget, Bailey is not anticipating cuts to service for Salisbury residents.
 
Several large projects are included in the FY20-21 budget with four of the projects having grants or offsetting revenues. The projects without offsetting revenue will be delayed until there is funding to move forward. These large projects include:
$1,579,394 for bike lanes and sidewalks along Newsome Road
$125,000 for sidewalks and intersection improvements at Brenner Avenue 
$250,000 for improvements to the Grants Creek Greenway
$200,000 for the Neighborhood Revitalization Program
$215,000 for the E. Fisher Street and N. Ellis Street Bridges
$199,192 for the Plaza Roof Replacement
$275,655 for the Hall Gym Roof Replacement
Staffing of the new Bell Tower Green Park
Bailey recommended a 1.83% water and sewer increase based on the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers for the South Region (CPI-U). An average monthly residential water and sewer utility bill, for a customer using 4,000 gallons, would be $59.43 (an increase of $1.02 or about 3.4 cents per day).
 
Other budget fee changes include a $.94 increase in residential curbside collection sites with one waste container and one recycling container, and an $.08 increase to stormwater fees to offset inflation. The stormwater fee increase also provides funds for stormwater projects to reduce flooding and pollution to maintain compliance with the existing NPDES permit.
 
 “This has proven to be one of the most challenging budgets to prepare and with the impact of COVID-19, the challenge was certainly exacerbated,” said Bailey. “Now that the budget has been approved by City Council, city staff will continue to ensure that we are good stewards of resident tax dollars over the next fiscal year. I’m very proud of the city finance department for their hard work in preparation for tonight’s vote.” 
 
The adopted FY21 budget can be found on the city website at https://salisburync.gov/Government/Finance/Budget once the document is finalized.

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Monthly Newsletter

 TitleDescription
09/2025Craft Beer Bubbles Over at BTG | BlockWork: We’re Looking for Volunteers | A New Addition to the Salisbury Sculpture Show
08/2025Beautify Your Block: City offers Grant Support | Explore the Outdoors: Salisbury Parks | Applications Now Open for the City of Salisbury Youth Council
07/2025A Night Out For Our Community | Back-to-School Bash: Community Day | Prepare For Hurricane Season
06/2025Lighting the Way and Giving Back | Legacy Mural | City Budget Review
05/2025Rock Out at Cheerwine Festival | Cheers for Shirt Design Winner | Festival Shuttle Service | Festival Information
04/2025Statewide Litter Sweep, Fair Housing Month, BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods, Sidewalk Poetry Call For Poets, Paint the Pavement Call for Artists
03/2025Cheerwine Festival T-Shirt Contest, Spring Spruce Up Week, Protect Your Water Bill, Pilot Traffic Circle
02/2025Tips For Cold Weather, Cheerwine Festival on May 17, Join A City Board, Tree Give-A-Away
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
06/2024EDK Awards | Street Repaving | City Budget | Rec/Senior Center Survey | Spruce Up Week
04/2024Strategic Plan | Mental Health Crisis Line | BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods | Paint the Pavement Call For Artists | Meet the Sculpture Show Artists
04/2024Strategic Plan | Mental Health Crisis Line | BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods | Paint the Pavement Call For Artists | Meet the Sculpture Show Artists
04/2024Strategic Plan | Mental Health Crisis Line | BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods | Paint the Pavement Call For Artists | Meet the Sculpture Show Artists
03/2024Vote on Cheerwine Festival T-shirt Design | What to do for Water Line Breaks | Sign Up For RoCo Alerts | Spring Spruce Up Week
03/2024Vote on Cheerwine Festival T-shirt Design | What to do for Water Line Breaks | Sign Up For RoCo Alerts | Spring Spruce Up Week
03/2024Vote on Cheerwine Festival T-shirt Design | What to do for Water Line Breaks | Sign Up For RoCo Alerts | Spring Spruce Up Week
12/2023Public Art | Holiday Decor Contest | Main Street Project | Winter Spruce Up Week
12/2023Public Art | Holiday Decor Contest | Main Street Project | Winter Spruce Up Week
10/2023Dixonville Cemetery Memorial Dedication | Halloween Safety Tips | Empowering Women in Law Enforcement | Leaf Collection and Map
07/2023Hurricane Season | RoCo's Homeless Task Force | Waste Assistance Program | Citizen's Academy | Community Fair and National Night Out
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
03/2023Beautify Salisbury - Litter Sweeps, BlockWork, Adopt-A-Street, We Dig Salisbury | Cheerwine Festival | Salisbury311
02/2023Protect Your Pipes This Winter | Join A Board | City Begins Budget Process | Recycling In Salisbury | Recycling Calendar
02/2023Protect Your Pipes This Winter | Join A Board | City Begins Budget Process | Recycling In Salisbury | Recycling Calendar
02/2023Protect Your Pipes This Winter | Join A Board | City Begins Budget Process | Recycling In Salisbury | Recycling Calendar
02/2023Protect Your Pipes This Winter | Join A Board | City Begins Budget Process | Recycling In Salisbury | Recycling Calendar
01/2023Downtown Decor Displays Holiday Spirit | MLK Celebration | Humanitarian Nominations | Wine About Winter Tickets On Sale | Reader Survey
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
10/2022Tips for Trick-or-Treaters | United Way Rowan | Crime Prevention Month | 4th Cultivating Community Conversations | Leaf Collection
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
03/2022Cheerwine Festival Returns | 5 Ways to Pay Your BIll | SPD Receives Grant | Spring Spruce Up Week
12/2021Be A Part of Our Public Art | SRU Recognized For Quality | Don't let FOG Take Your Holiday Down the Drain
11/2021Bell Tower Green Now Open | Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Shopping Tips For Black Friday
09/2021Safe, Clean Transit | McCoy Road Culvert Replaced | Cheerwine Festival Music Lineup
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09/2021Safe, Clean Transit | McCoy Road Culvert Replaced | Cheerwine Festival Music Lineup
08/2021Rowan Creek Week | Back-to-School Resource Fair | New Crime Information Center | Blockwork Awarded Lowe's Grant For $100,000
08/2021Rowan Creek Week | Back-to-School Resource Fair | New Crime Information Center | Blockwork Awarded Lowe's Grant For $100,000
08/2021Rowan Creek Week | Back-to-School Resource Fair | New Crime Information Center | Blockwork Awarded Lowe's Grant For $100,000
07/2021Salisbury Cease Fire | Citizen's Academy | Summer Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show
06/2021Summer Camps | Transit Director Award | Hurricane Tips | Wine About Winter
02/2021New Fire Station & Memorial Event | Protect Your Pipes | Join A Board Or Commission | Save The Date For Cheerwine | Employee Spotlight
01/2021Holiday Storefront Winners, Celebrate MLK, Main St. Plan, Nominate A Local Hero, Funds For Fire Suppression
12/2020SRU Exceeds Water Standard | Bring On 2021 Virtual New Year's Eve | Public Input Wanted
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
06/2020 Virtual Festival Is Big Hit | Hurricane Season | Spring Spruce Up | City Prepares Next Year's Budget | Flush Smart | 2020 Census
01/2020EDK Nominations | Runner-Friendly Community | Start/Change Water Services | Cheerwine Applications | Employee Spotlight | Winterize Your Pipes | Winter Spruce Up
09/2019Butterfly Release | Scoop the Poop | Dog Swim Party | Transit Month | Blockwork | Neighborhood Officer Map
09/2019Butterfly Release | Scoop the Poop | Dog Swim Party | Transit Month | Blockwork | Neighborhood Officer Map
09/2019Butterfly Release | Scoop the Poop | Dog Swim Party | Transit Month | Blockwork | Neighborhood Officer Map
09/2019Butterfly Release | Scoop the Poop | Dog Swim Party | Transit Month | Blockwork | Neighborhood Officer Map
08/2019Salisbury Youth Employees | New SPD Initiatives | Youth Baseball Camp | Brewbury Fest Returns | Recycling
08/2019Salisbury Youth Employees | New SPD Initiatives | Youth Baseball Camp | Brewbury Fest Returns | Recycling
08/2019Salisbury Youth Employees | New SPD Initiatives | Youth Baseball Camp | Brewbury Fest Returns | Recycling
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury

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