State money may help Nimmo United Methodist Church, which dates back to 1791, pay for renovations after it asked the city to release it from a historic designation that was driving up costs.
The state legislative budget proposal, which advanced Monday, includes $500,000 for the city to support church renovations and preservation. If included in the final budget, it could help cover cost differences between materials the historic district requires and other modern options.
Last year, the church asked to end the Nimmo Church Historic and Cultural District designation, which has been held since 1980. Advisory bodies recommended against a change, but City Council deferred the matter in April to see whether state funding came through…