Newberry Finalizes CRA Board And Budget

NEWBERRY ‒ While creating the City of Newberry Community Development Agency (CRA) took years to get off the ground, the Newberry City Commission wasted no time in setting up the organizational framework of the body.  At the CRA meeting immediately following the Sept. 27 Newberry City Commission meeting, City Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas suggested that the City Commission sit also as the CRA Board.  He also proposed that the Board mirror the City Commission. 

Mayor Jordan Marlowe was elected as the CRA Board Chair, Tim Marden was elected as Chair Pro Tem and Mark Clark was elected as Vice Chair Pro Tem.  Thomas was appointed Executive Director of the CRA Board. 

In that role, Thomas will carry out directives by the new board within the framework of the CRA Plan.  During the initial years of the CRA, prior to annual collection of revenues sufficient to fund an Executive Director position, the Board may utilize city staff to carry out the mission of the CRA. Noting that the budget was fairly small for CRA projects at this time, Thomas said he believed he would be able to implement his CRA duties along with his regular duties. 

The last item on the CRA agenda was adoption of the Fiscal Year 2022 CRA budget.  Newberry Director of Finance and Administration Dallas Lee presented the proposed CRA budget of $16,798 to the City Commission on Sept. 13.  The CRA Board unanimously adopted the budget during this meeting.

The current expenses listed are for overhead at $1,000, façade grants at $7,500, contract/other services at $6,700 and training at $1,500.  Total expenses are estimated to be $16,700, leaving a $98 estimated fund balance at the end of the year.

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