By Liz Holland

Salisbury City Council members on Monday approved a $93.6 million capital budget that will pay for improvements to city streets, parks and buildings, as well as finance new vehicles and equipment over the next five years.

The budget outlines how the money will be allocated starting in fiscal 2023 which begins July 1, and ending in fiscal 2027. The money will come from a combination of general fund revenues, bond debt and leases.

Among the projects to be funded are the North Prong Park, a rail trail, bikeways and improvements at City Park and the zoo that are all outlined in the city’s various master plans, Mayor Jake Day told council members at a work session last week.

“We’re continuing down that process of going from visioning and planning to capital planning to execution via the budget,” he said.

An important project in the budget is $300,000 during fiscal 2023 for the final phase of the Town Square that will extend across Division Street from the space outside the Downtown Garage westward into what is now a large city parking lot that is slated for development.

The development will include 240 apartments and commercial spaces. Day said the city will retain ownership of the portion of the property that will include the new public space.

Phase 1 of Town Square has already been completed along the side of the garage with a food truck pad, new landscaping and seating. Eventually, it will include bollards along both sides of the street that can be removed for events such as 3rd Friday and the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. There will also be a fountain and seating, with space for the Downtown Christmas tree and an ice-skating rink.

The city also has budgeted money for other Downtown improvements, including $95,000 to replace a section of Riverwalk, $285,000 for streetlight replacements and $510,000 to replace lighting along the Riverwalk.

The budget includes $3.34 million for the Salisbury Police Department over the next five years, with $2.74 million going toward new vehicles. Another $125,000 will pay for a pole building for storage and training during fiscal 2027.

The Salisbury Fire Department is budgeted to get $6.15 million, with $400,000 in fiscal 2025 for design and engineering of a new fire station in the north end of town. City officials have long cited the need for a fourth fire station in that area because of the increase in residential and commercial development there.

Other items budgeted are $1.75 million for a new engine, $1.5 million for a rescue vehicle, $125,000 for a radio paging system replacement and $517,660 for portable radio replacement.

The budget also includes $196,500 for the city’s share of repairs at the county-owned Government Office Building. That amount includes $97,500 during fiscal 2023, with $37,500 for the heating and air conditioning system, $30,000 to identify and repair the source of water infiltration on the west wall and $30,000 for ceiling and light replacements.

City officials also budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year $150,000 to update the city’s comprehensive plan last completed in 2010, $300,000 for master plan development and land acquisition for North Prong Park. An additional $130,000 will be spent on playground upgrades at Woodcock and Doverdale parks.