Tuesday evening is your third and final opportunity to testify on Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood’s proposed $558-million budget.
It calls for 31 new city positions and is an increase of $12-million from last year. Mr. Seewood tells reporters that his proposed budget emphasizes four main priorities: infrastructure, public safety, housing and social services. He’s proposing $46-million for about 80 capital improvements, including $500,000 to replace an MKT trail bridge and $4.5 million for the Forum Boulevard project.
Mr. Seewood is also proposing a pay raise for Columbia’s approximately 1,500 employees: the pay raise averages three-point-five percent.
Mr. Seewood is also proposing the creation of an affordable housing trust fund. The Columbia Board of Realtors says Columbia home prices in July were record-setting, blowing past records set earlier in 2024. Board of Realtors chief executive officer Brian Toohey says the average home sold price in July was $416,000, up 19 percent from last year. Mr. Seewood says the proposed affordable housing trust fund would help residents with down payment assistance and with rental assistance. Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget includes $1.5 million for the affordable housing trust fund. Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget also emphasizes public safety: $68-million of the city’s general fund budget would go toward public safety. That’s 51 percent of the general fund budget.
Columbia’s city council will also hear testimony this evening from Paquin Tower resident Ellen Hayes, who will outline her concerns about a food bank truck that no longer comes to the tower. Paquin Tower, which is on Paquin street, was built in 1973.
Columbia’s city council meets at 7.
