The Farmville Town Council has proposed an amendment of over $5 million to the current $18.5 million budget for the fiscal year 2015-16 town operating budget.

According to Farmville Town Manager Gerald Spates, the town applies for grants throughout the budget cycle. If the amount of quarterly awarded grants equals more than 1 percent of the total budget or amended budget, then a public hearing is required.

The council has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday at 7 p.m. regarding the amendment.

According to the town, “the reason for the amendment is to be able to utilize grant funds that were awarded or pending in [fiscal year] 2014-15 and not carried over in the [fiscal year] 2015-16 town budget.”

Ward D Council Representative Donald Hunter said the awards are typical grants that come from the federal government. The council wants to make sure the grants are put in the right places, he said.

Awarded money includes DMV highway safety grants, a USDA grant/loan for police cars, a bulletproof vest grant, a Department of Health grant and grants for the airport.

The VDOT grants will include payment overlay, money for the Buffalo Creek Bike and Pedestrian Trail and new traffic signals. Airport grants will be used to rehabilitate the airport’s apron and kill weeds on the property. The USDA grant/loan for police cars is a combination of a grant and a loan which will enable the town to purchase two patrol cars and use loan money for one.

About $3,000 in carryover funds from FY 2014-15 was earmarked for Virginia tourism brochures, according to the budget amendment.

The proposed amendment would bring the FY 2015-16 budget to $23.5 million.

According to the town, the total of the general fund amendment equaled out to just under $4 million. The total airport amendment was just over $1 million with a transfer of $25,354 from the general fund.

The public hearing will be held in the town council’s chambers in the Farmville Town Hall, located at 116 North Main St. in downtown Farmville.