Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The voice of the Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamilin filled the room inside the Statler Monday afternoon as Mayor Byron Brown was about to deliver his annual State of the City Address. "No one knows what the future holds," said Hamlin as he narrated the emotional video that previewed the mayor's address and reviewed a year filled with tragedy and challenges.
During his address, Brown detailed his proposed $582 million City Budget that was filed with the Buffalo Common Council.
The proposed budget includes a tax increase of 3.8%. For a home assessed at $100 thousand dollars, a homeowner would pay an additional $46 dollars a year.
The mayor also recommended an increase in the Garbage User Fee between $7 dollars and $22 dollars depending on the size of the tote.
Funding Buffalo Fire and Public Works Department
The city is buying 11 new pieces of equipment this year for the Buffalo Fire Department, this includes ladder and pumper trucks.
"It's an ongoing process, but utility vehicles for sure will address some of some of our needs," said Buffalo Fire Commissioner William Renaldo.
"We already awarded the contracts for an aerial platform, a new engine, and eight generators, which will bring all of our fire houses up to speed as far as emergency generators go. Also in the 2023 budget is funds for a mini tract ambulance or rapid response vehicles. That contract has also been awarded. [The city] earmarked $175,000 for utility track vehicles."
Mayor Brown added, "We are reviewing internally the most necessary pieces of equipment. So it could be a range of equipment, we want to make sure that we're purchasing vehicles that will be more maneuverable in snow emergency heavy snow conditions. So the Fire Commissioner has staff are looking at that."
In addition, the city is continuing to up their game when it comes to funding the Department of Public Works for proper snow removal services and equipment in response to last year's deadly blizzard.
24 pieces of new snow fighting equipment are coming to Buffalo, including a Vehicle Rook, which could get cars out of hard to access areas.
"It's a lift. It's a forklift for a vehicle from the side," said DPW Commissioner Nate Marton. "Clearing those streets from an emergency standpoint, it's very critical [to go] as quickly as we can. That vehicle gives us great flexibility, great maneuverability and a quick move on anything that might be blocking our streets. So it's a wintertime vehicle, but it's got us throughout the throughout the rest of the year, if needed as well."
Marton highlights the other 23 pieces coming as "a combination of more snow plows and high lifts."
"We're not anticipating snow falls in the future being nice ones that you can push easily. So we're going to need high lifts, we have an older fleet. So this will supplement our fleet and then replace some of the older ones as well. And then snowplows get more plows on the streets to clear the streets. It's about providing service to our community as best as we can.
$1 million dollars is being allocated to combat the costs of emergency snow removal contractors if needed.
And lastly, with the help a $10 million dollar commitment from Governor Kathy Hochul, the Public Works Department is looking deeper into a state-of-the-art Public Works Campus and Resiliency Center, proposals have already been made with potential locations for a centralized hub.
Bill forgiveness
"Today I'm announcing a historic one-time bill forgiveness program – this program will help thousands of struggling low-income homeowners become current on past due water, sewer, and tax bills."
This investment of about $30 million in the one-time bill forgiveness program includes funding set aside by Governor Kathy Hochul to help East Buffalo homeowners become current. In addition, Mayor Brown directed the departments of assessment, taxation, and law to not hold a foreclosure auction this year. This will give struggling homeowners extra time to recover financially.
Racial wealth gap
• Since 2006, the diversity in the City workforce has increased by 45 percent; people of color are now over 40percent of the city workforce.
• The new Learn to Earn Buffalo program will expand workforce training programs in our city for youth and adults. Through this program we're awarding funds to Say Yes, SEIU 1199, and a collaboration between Villa Maria College and Bitwise.
Affordable housing
• Since 2006, Mayor Brown has strategically committed $56 million for affordable housing projects, that leveraged $695 million in development, creating 3,665 new housing units for residents, older adults, andveterans.
• Today, Mayor Brown announced the City is on track to reaching his goal of 40% affordable housing inBuffalo.
Additionally, he stated, "The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority's Marine Drive, Commodore Perry, and Shaffer Village are each poised for major change. One of the most ambitious redevelopment undertakings in Buffalo's history. In the months to come, we will see major progress on all three projects. When complete, this unprecedented public-private investment in affordable housing will top one billion dollars."
Infrastructure Investments
• In neighborhoods citywide, $12.5 million is allocated for freshly paved streets, almost $8 million for new sidewalks.
• The City is on track to do more improvements to parks and park facilities, bringing the Brown Administration's total investment in parks since 2006 to over $91 million.
• New investments include new sports courts at Emerson Park and Kingsley Park, a sports complex at Shoshone Park and improvements to JFK Park, and Okell Park.
Mayor Brown also announced:
• A $1 million award to the African American Cultural Center reconstruction project.
• $10 million investment in the Replacing Old Lead Lines program
