Monday evening is your first opportunity to testify about Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood’s proposed $558-million budget.
939 the Eagle’s Mike Murphy, the publisher of Comobuz, reports Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget calls for the creation of 31 new positions next year. Murphy reports that’s 120 new positions in the three fiscal years since Mr. Seewood was hired in January 2022 and Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was elected four months later.
Mr. Seewood unveiled his budget blueprint last week at city hall: it is highlighted by affordable housing, public safety, city employee pay and infrastructure. The proposed $558-million budget is an increase of $12-million from last year. Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget includes a pay raise for Columbia’s approximately 1,500 city employees: the pay raise is about 3.5 percent. His budget emphasizes public safety: more than half of the city’s general fund expenditures are dedicated to public safety, in his plan.
Mr. Seewood is also proposing the creation of an affordable housing trust fund. The Columbia Board of Realtors says the average price of a home sold in Columbia in June was about $355,000. Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget includes $1.5 million for the affordable housing trust fund, which could be used for down payment and rental assistance.