The public works projects consist of sidewalk reconstruction, while Disney Elementary plans to replace the asphalt underneath its playground, said Ruth Davidson-Guerra, assistant community development director for housing.
The amount approved is nearly $45,000 less than last year’s block grants as a result of deep cuts in President Bush’s proposed $3.1 trillion 2009 fiscal year budget, Davidson-Guerra said.
The decrease in funding forced the city to scale down its project agenda, which included the decision to give money to Disney Elementary over Washington Elementary — for which officials had originally requested more than $750,000, she said.
Officials also had to cut nearly $400,000 in public works funds requested and $120,000 from building improvement projects the city wanted, Davidson-Guerra said.
“We had to jockey around to see what projects would receive funding,” she said. “We had to decide whether to split up money between the schools and neither one complete their project or give funding to Disney to start and complete their whole project.”
The Kids Community Dental Clinic, which provides dentistry services to children of low-income working families in Burbank, was pleased that funds are headed its way.
“This allows us to make some necessary improvements so we can provide essential services,” said Thomas Engman, president of the clinic. “We provide affordable, quality dental care in an environment conducive to good health. Without the clinic, these children would not get the care they need.”
The local cut follows deep federal reductions, said Douglas Rice, a housing policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C.
