AUBURN – Councilors said Monday they are willing to sacrifice work on an Academy Street parking lot in favor of better sidewalks around the city.

Community Development Administrator Reine Mynahan presented the draft budget for the city’s share of the federal Community Development Block Grant program to councilors at Monday workshop. That budget is $1.08 million in spending.

Auburn’s block grant budget calls for spending $250,000 to build a parking lot on Academy Street, across from the Great Falls Performing Arts Center. That lot would be used by people using the center, as well as neighbors in the area.

“I really think $250,000 could be used for many other things rather than a parking lot right now,” Councilor Ray Berube said.

Councilor Ron Potvin suggested using block grant money to fix some city sidewalks. The CDBG budget calls for spending $45,000 on sidewalks, mostly along Roak Street in New Auburn.

“We hear consistently at our ward meetings that sidewalks are one of the biggest priorities,” Potvin said. Councilors called for special workshop meeting to discuss the parking lot and which sidewalks could get block grant money.

Auburn receives federal block grant money each year, and that must be spent to help low-income residents. In the past, the city has given money to social service agencies, helped build affordable housing and paid for community amenities such as Festival Plaza and Bonney Park.

Mynahan said the city has specific goals for block grant money this year, most of it aimed at addressing poverty. The block grant budget calls for helping 10 families qualify for new homes this year, helping to renovate 60 apartments or single-family homes, build 17 affordable housing units for low-income renters and provide loans to pay security deposits for 28 families.

The budget also sets aside money for social service programs, including Head Start, the Auburn Recreation District’s scholarship program and the Boys and Girls Club in New Auburn.

Mynahan will present the block grant budget at a special public meeting in Auburn Hall on March 19. The public will be able to make comments on the budget from March 31 through April 30, and it will be reviewed and adopted by the City Council on May 5. It must be submitted to the federal government by May 15.