Mayor: Anderson could lose nearly $1 million in federal funds under Trump budget

In his annual “Status of the City” address to about 50 people at the Madison County Historical Society, Broderick said the budget proposed by Trump would cut the Community Development Block Grant Program across the country.

He noted the federal government's concerns that CDBG funds are not being used to benefit low- and moderate-income residents. But the mayor insisted the funds have been used properly in Anderson.

“Every dime spent in Anderson is spent as intended,” Broderick said. “The funds are used to benefit Anderson and Madison County.”

He said the loss of the funding would have an impact on the quality of life for city residents.

In 2016 the city had an additional $1 million in CDBG funds available that had not been spent by the administration of former Mayor Kevin Smith, according to Broderick.

He said those funds were used to expand the delivery of summer programs from 70 children in 2015 to 270 in 2016 through a partnership with Anderson Community School Corp. and Liberty Christian School.

CDBG funds were also used to replace sidewalks, pave streets in residential neighborhoods and make improvements to two city parks.

The mayor said Anderson receives $836,000 per year through the CDBG program. Fifteen percent covers administrative costs.

Broderick said the city is also using $2.8 million in federal funds for the Blight Elimination Program to demolish abandoned properties within the city and to return the properties to the tax rolls.

He said the 18 months prior to him taking office in January 2016 only 13 homes were demolished. In 2016, 50 abandoned properties were demolished with another 15 scheduled for demolition in the next 45 days, according to the mayor.

He said the Blight Elimination Program has been extended for another year.

During his one-hour presentation, Broderick also talked about economic development during 2016, noting that both NTN Driveshaft and NKT Precision Axle Corp. decided to expand in Anderson, bringing over 500 jobs to the city.

“The one constant is change; we’re seeing change for the better,” Broderick said of Anderson. “We want to build a community where people can live, raise a family and have their children stay in Anderson.”

Addressing public safety, Broderick noted that the city used available funds to purchase 22 new vehicles for the Anderson Police Department to start replacing an aging fleet of patrol vehicles.

“We hope to do something similar in 2017,” he said.