BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick City Council and mayor agreed in budget talks on Wednesday that they want sidewalks completely along Maple Avenue sooner rather than later, and they are willing to help owners finance their responsibility to get the work done.

Mayor Karin Tome tentatively budgeted $50,000 for a loan program to help property owners fix their sidewalks as part of her proposed $4.5 million fiscal 2017 general fund budget. Councilmen Harry Lashley and Angel White were prepared to put more money into the loan program. No final amount or repayment plan has been set.

The homeowners’ share of the cost has not been set, but it could be 100 percent. The council is considering enforcing the current building code, which requires property owners to have and maintain sidewalks in front of their property.

Along Maple Avenue, which leads to the Brunswick Public Library, the Brunswick Shopping Center and other commercial properties, portions of sidewalk in front of several residences need repairs, and some stretches have never had a sidewalk.

The situation adversely affects city connectivity and safety, Tome said.

The estimated cost to fix the situation on Maple Avenue is about $100,000. The city should not pay for the work, which is the property owner’s responsibility, Councilman Carroll Jones said.

Councilman Ellis Burruss, Tome and Lashley said the addition of new sidewalk would benefit the whole city.

“We want that walkability,” Tome said.

The loan program is being considered as a less expensive option for property owners to get the work done. If the city contracts for the work, the homeowner could pay the cost over several years in quarterly installments.

On Wednesday, the council also gave tentative approval for spending $100,000 — $90,000 in Program Open Space grant funding — to refurbish the basketball courts on Potomac Street southwest of City Park. And $12,000 was approved for City Skate Park renovations.

The council voted 5-1 to add a 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment to employee salaries. Lashley cast the dissenting vote, preferring a COLA closer to 1 percent. The budget includes a 2.5 percent merit raise for civilian employees and a 2.5 percent step increase for police officers. The force has 12 officers now, and is budgeted to have 14.

The proposed budget is 6.5 percent higher overall than this year’s. The property tax rate is proposed to go down from 46.2 to 44 cents per $100 of assessed value, but property owners may get a larger tax bill if their property assessment has gone up.

The city estimates that increased income tax revenue, higher property assessments and new construction will generate $221,300 more in tax revenue than this year.

The council will discuss the economic development portion of the budget, $252,500, and other budget details at a special meeting at 6 p.m. June 3. On June 14, the council will have a public hearing and is scheduled to adopt the budget.

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