AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/budget/)
Though votes are still being tallied, more West Side residents took part this year than in past years. They’re helping decide how $1.5 million in “menu money” will be spent.
West Side residents’ input is being sought tonight at one of three forums the city of Chicago is holding as it prepares for the 2022 budget.
Sixty percent of the $1 million will go to street repairs and resurfacing in the ward. The rest of the projects to be funded – and listed here in order of popularity – are: street safety upgrades, community gardens, a fitness course at the Austin Town Hall, bike lanes, a mural in Columbus Park and public art at Sayre Language Academy. Nearly 400 residents voted this time around.
Residents of the 29th Ward have until Jan. 29th to vote on how $1 million in menu money will be spent. In addition to street repairs and surfacing, the money will be allocated for community projects. Residents will be able to choose up to five of seven projects, which include public art, community gardens, speed bumps and a fitness course at Austin Town Hall.
Residents of the 29th Ward will soon have the opportunity to vote on how to spend about $1 million in their community. The goal is for residents to be able to vote on several possible projects before the end of January.
West Side residents have until Sept. 19 to submit their ideas on how the “menu money” should be spent. Community volunteers and Ald. Chris Taliaferro’s office will whittle down the suggestions for residents to vote on in coming months.
All but four Chicago Public Schools in Austin could see an increase in their budgets for the 20-21 school year. The Chicago Board of Education still needs to approved the school district’s $2.8 billion budget; that’s expected to happen sometime this summer.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government is still conducting the nation’s once-a-decade count of all residents. Complete your form today or risk having your community lose out on future federal funding of a variety of programs.
One of the six public sessions will be held in Austin; that meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at Michele Clark High School, 5101 W. Harrison St. Residents are encouraged to register ahead of time.
29th Ward residents approved six out of seven projects that will be completed over the next several months. The projects include street resurfacing, community park improvements and a pedestrian crosswalk, with a safety island.