CHAPEL HILL - Armed with a preliminary budget proposal for the forthcoming fiscal year, the Chapel Hill Town Council listened to several pitches Wednesday for increased funding to programs and organizations.

Robert Dowling, executive director for the Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, told the Town Council that the nonprofit really needs $300,000, as requested, to cover building new affordable homes and maintaining existing ones. According to a preliminary budget presentation Monday night, only $200,000 was allocated to the Housing and Land Trust.

Still, Dowling said, the organization would make do with the $200,000 as well.

Jesse Gibson, with the Chapel Hill Youth Council, also asked for more funding, which would help the Youth Council coordinator go from a part-time position to a full-time one.

He said the group also wants to increase its youth membership from 23 to 35 or 40 students, establish a Web site and look for internship opportunities with the town.