The Pinehurst Village Council has approved a $15.5 million budget — a 3 percent reduction from last year’s — that includes some significant improvement projects.

Village Manager Andy Wilkison has maintained that the 2010-2011 budgeting process was the most difficult he’s had to work on in his tenure with the village. The council voted unanimously to approve the budget at its Tuesday work session.

“I think it’s a responsible budget and it will provide a lot of good things,” he said.” We’ve got some good capital projects next year to try to keep the village moving forward.”

Among some of the major initiatives in the document is $805,000 to resurface five miles of road in the village. Wilkison said the village conducts a study every three years that rates the roads from worst to best. That study is expected to be completed between now and the fall, so the worst roads can be resurfaced beginning in January.

The village has appropriated $150,000 for new greenway development this year. It will construct a trail from Pinehurst Elementary School to Given Memorial Library, and then continue to build a trail west down Linden Road from Elliot’s to Pine Vista and down towards the marina as far as possible.

It has also budgeted $125,000 to improve the downtown sand parking lot. The council elected to hold off on plans for a downtown comfort station for now.

The budget includes $150,000 for storm water projects, and $100,000 for improvements and extensions of the Old Town brick sidewalks.

Contact John Krahnert III by e-mail at jkrahnert@thepilot.com.