Carrboro 25-26 Budget Results affecting Bolin Creek. The Town of Carrboro Town Council approved the 2025-26 budget proposal in June without using $1.4 million in taxpayer funds to design the controversial greenway through Bolin Creek’s fragile riparian area. Town Manager Toney cited overall constrained budget conditions. The Town Council had chosen the creekside path without conducting a feasibility study or engineering drawings and requested that some allocation be made toward initiating that work. Consequently, the Manager suggested allocating $14,000 toward engineered bridge studies.
Thank you to Bolin Creek supporters for responding to our request to write and speak to the Town Council on behalf of Bolin Creek’s riparian zone. The Creekside route floods regularly and serves as an existing wildlife corridor, making a paved trail a potential maintenance headache for the Town while profoundly altering the ecological health of the creek. Commenters pointed out that 1.4 million dollars could be better spent: (1) on investing in land and location options for affordable housing for residents priced out by rising taxes and living costs; (2) Funding the Seawell School Road side path which connects three schools and serves far more daily users; and (3) supporting safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure in high traffic and poor access areas.
