A $1.4 million budget for the city Economic and Community Development Department gained support in committee Thursday and is headed to the full Pine Bluff City Council for final approval.
Because of cuts made by the federal government, the total department budget is about $300,000 less than it was in 2011.
The budget is broken down into three major federally funded Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, according to the mayor’s proposed 2012 budget:
• Community Development Block Grant Program at $695,100
• HOME Program at $454,873
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• And Homeless Program at $283,882.
In the Community Development Block Grant Program, the proposed $695,100 budget is $102,699 less than the 2011 budget.
“And that’s due to budget cuts that the federal government has implemented – has even implemented this year,” said Steve Miller, finance director for the city. “And we expect for that to continue this year, maybe even more in the coming year.”
Likewise, the HOME Program’s budget — at $454,873 — is $200,867 less than it was in 2011.
The exception is the Homeless Program budget, which — at $283,882 — is $10,287 more than it was in 2011.
A 4.1 percent raise for the department’s full-time employees is included in Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr.’s proposed budget, the same raise amount being applied to all city employees who are non-uniformed and make more than minimum wage.
Also included in the proposed budget is a new position, that of assistant director. The position would be paid a salary of $55,000 — a total of about $68,000 when benefits are included.
Alderman Thelma Walker, who chairs the Pine Bluff City Council Economic Development Committee, was hesitant to recommend the proposed budget before seeing a job description for the proposed new position, which assistant to the mayor Ted Davis said is still being drafted. Ultimately, the committee voted in favor of recommending the proposed budget to the full council. Alderman Glen Brown and Alderman George Stepps are also on the committee.