A projected decrease in property tax revenue has the Buckhead Community Improvement District weighing the benefits of big, charismatic projects to entice new development versus smaller ones to improve residents’ day-to-day lives.

The nonprofit group is funded by local businesses that elect to pay an additional 3 mils in property taxes for transportation and quality-of-life improvements.

In 2012, the district is projected to take in $3.9 million, down from $4.5 million in 2009, $4.3 million in 2010 and $4.1 million last year. Business owners must vote to reauthorize the group every six years. Buckhead’s district is set to run through 2017.

The group took up the issue of its 2012 budget at its monthly board meeting Tuesday at Tower Place in Buckhead.

With ongoing projects like streetscapes along Peachtree Road and in the Buckhead Village, the Buckhead Uptown Connection (BUC) shuttle service and a new traffic officer program, more than half of the group’s funds are allocated to maintaining existing efforts.

“We’ve seen a decline in the revenues and this is a factor we need to take into consideration,” board member John Lundeen said. “I know we have certain obligations in landscaping and other areas, but we’re subsidizing the police [through the traffic officer program].”

Lundeen questioned whether such projects take up more than their share of the group’s budget.

Board chair David Allman said the district’s contribution to such programs is more than likely necessary.

“Whether you’re talking about the officer program or maintenance, [the question is] are those services being offered in the public sector or not,” he said. “There are certain things we can say we’d love for the public sector to do, but it’s not happening and it’s not going to happen, so let’s get over it.”

Allman also questioned the property tax revenue projections, saying that the opening of the Buckhead Atlanta development and other factors may increase collections.

“The down and flat [projection] is so conservative,” he said. “To me that seems overly conservative.”

The group approved the 2012 budget except a line item pertaining to the BUC shuttle, which will be discussed at a later date.

In other meeting news, Project Manager Brian McHugh announced the Georgia Department of Transportation has approved the initial phase of a plan to extend the left-turn lane on Piedmont Road onto Habersham Road.

The state agency is expected to evaluate an environmental report related to the project next month and begin with right-of-way acquisition in spring, McHugh said. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin next winter, he added.