Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon has submitted a $94 Million proposed capital budget to the city's Common Council.
The proposal is submitted at a time where a court battle is still playing out between the Mayor and City Comptroller over last year's spending plan. The proposed 2026 budget would also exceed the borrowing limit recommended by the Comptroller.
"This $94 million spending plan expands on the Citizens Planning Council’s recommended capital budget and makes strategic and needed investments in our city’s infrastructure, senior and youth facilities, cultural assets, and upgrading fleet vehicles," Scanlon said, in a statement.
That budget plan now goes to the city's finance committee and will be brought up for a vote by the Common Council by December 15.
Common COuncil member Mitch Nowakowski told WBEN he doesn't expect the changeover in the Mayor's office from Chris Scanlon to Sean Ryan to impact that process.
"I do believe that the new administration will benefit from a capital budget that's passed and well though out," Nowakowski said.
The proposed spending plan includes nearly $1 Million for new snowplows, and $2.7 Million for various infrastructure projects. It also includes Buffalo Public School’s $55.6 Million in capital projects. That money is reimbursable by the state.
"That's where the battle over bonds, even in the previous capital budget is," said Nowakowski about spending on schools. "In the city, we are the bonding authority for Buffalo Public Schools. Those bonds are reimbursable by the state of New York and the remaining money they have shown that they have on hand to close."