Rogero budget stresses redevelopment

Sandra ClarkFeature

Mayor Madeline Rogero proposed a $336.3 million net budget in an address Friday, held at the terminus of the James White Parkway where construction will soon begin on a $10 million Gateway (to the Urban Wilderness) Park. The full text of Rogero’s speech and all supporting budget documents can be found here.

Highlights include:

  • Relocation of police and fire headquarters to the old St. Mary’s hospital site; she will ask city council in May for its commitment to proceed.
  • Continued discussions about minor-league baseball downtown, but that decision will be made by the next mayor and city council.
  • $4.25 million to assist Knoxville’s Community Development Corp. (KCDC) in its Austin Homes community revitalization.
  • 2.5 percent raises for all city employees; entry salary for police officers will be $40,000.
  • $1.2 million for the development of greenway corridors; $1 million for the Fort Dickerson Quarry development; $500,000 for Ijams Nature Center; and funds for improvements to ball fields, tennis courts and playgrounds, West Hills Park, Fort Kid, and fitness room upgrades and other enhanced park maintenance.
  • $5.8 million for street paving, $535,000 for improvements to traffic signals and $200,000 for traffic calming projects.
  • Magnolia Avenue Streetscapes Project will expand eastward toward Cherry Street; $1 million is designated for Phase 3 design work.
  • $1.45 million for sidewalks and crosswalks, with emphasis on school parental responsibility zones.
  • $425,000 – an increase of $100,000 – to assist community schools in center-city neighborhoods, in collaboration with the Great Schools Partnership and Knox County Schools.
  • $250,000 for bicycle infrastructure improvements.
  • $100,000 to address chronic problem properties and another $100,000 for blighted property acquisition.

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