Mayor Brown Announces New Budget
"The city will mirror the residents' sacrifices," Brown stated. "We're calling for cut backs on non-essential travel, purchases, overtime, and we'll closely track and monitor city expenses." In addition, the mayor and his staff have set up a "Rainy Day Fund" keeping a $30M reserve for use during any potential future fiscal crisis.
The garbage user fee will hold, property taxes will decrease by nearly 5 percent, and city services such as police and fire will see an increase in hires. The funding for these services will allow for 40 new police, 40 anti-crime surveillance personnel, and 35 firefighters. Though these numbers do not take in the overall total, due to the projected retirement of existing police and firefighters, the increase is expected to grow in front of the curve each year.
Mayor Brown also spoke about the Police Auxiliary Pilot Program in Black Rock/Riverside. The auxiliary will be police trained and unarmed. "The auxiliary police are not meant to replace any existing police officers on the street. They will be additional eyes and ears," Mayor Brown said. They differ from the "Special Police" in that they will be directly affiliated with the Buffalo Police Department, but will wear different uniforms.
Saying that the city has 200 acres of shovel-ready industrial land, Brown has alloted $30M toward the Buffalo Revitalization Initiative, and $15M is set aside for the Grow Buffalo Fund. There is also more than $11M in NYS grant funds set aside for labor contracts.
Brown also has plans to reestablish the Office of Environment. "We'll ramp up the office," Brown said. "We have plans to hire two graduate students and will create an inner-departmental committee." Brown admits that the recycling effort saw only a slight increase in 2006-2007, but vows to roll out new proposals soon in conjunction with a series of town meetings, saying, "This has to be a resident-driven initiative."
Taxes are down, crime is down, police and fire are up, youth jobs are up, as well as neighborhood revitalization and readiness for economic growth and development. The city's report on the entire budget can be viewed here.
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Comment Options
tonyarmani
this year B. Brown wants to "eliminate non-essential purchases, contain costs wherever possible, and manage our resources more efficiently."
As opposed to what?
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Texpat10
As opposed to BAU. We'll see if it really happens. I have my doubts. But I get what you are saying. Shouldn't that always be the case?
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Joshua
It looks like the City is on the right track. I like the idea of the rainy day fund - who knows it may or may not be a rainy day - there may be an extra $30M available for following years budget. I think the City would greatly benefit from selling off some of the parking ramps and being able to collect the taxes from these properties (Main Place).
The main thing the City needs to desperately do is to attract a major corporation (business) to make Buffalo it's hub. This business should be able to build the tallest tower downtown and work with (not against) the City to increase tourism and the viability of the City of Buffalo. Tax breaks should be at a minimum, the City needs the assets to increase services such as ---- SNOWPLOWING and ROAD IMPROVEMENTS!!! This would be the start of something great for this area.
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sbrof
Well it is good words. I still find a problem when the only people seeing new money are police and fire. How the come the city building inspectors, permits or public works that are constantly under attack are not seeing some sort of help. Sure it will be good to have more police on the street but I think to a bigger spur in development would happen if there was a proper audit of those departments to cut any waste and organize them around the needs potential developers as well as health safety. I think the inspectors do a good job for what they are up against but we should really try to make Buffalo business friendlier. Unfortunately it falls back to unions and that is Browns major flaw. money to the unions instead of to the departments that really impact the economic development and quality of life of city residents. Development brings jobs which reduces poverty which reduces crime. Cops don't reduce crime they just pick up after it.
We need a city that will show to residents and businesses that it is going to care for them. Pick up their garbage on time, make sure the streets are nice places to call home etc etc. Good steps I admin, I think it is fantastic that he is reducing the property taxes (even by just a little) but still some of the same ole same ole.
Maybe fewer people are recycling because there are still garbage workers who don't follow the rules. I was appalled to watch garbage collectors throw recycle bin after recycle bin on Main Street into the garbage truck.. I WISH I was in a position of power.. those people who be reprimanded and if possible fired. You have a simple job.. there isn't any excuse to piss poor performance. It gives people the perception.. Why bother.. they don't care. And that is a part of the reason people move out.
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Balth
Thats right sbrof.... Everyone just loves when the new guy blows in and tells everyone what to do. What you're suggesting creates a hostile work environment. You have to do these things tactfully, not just YELL AND SCREAM at people that they aren't doing their jobs.... believe me, its VERY HARD.
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RisingDamp666
Garbage collecting just isn't the proud, honorable profession that it once was. I blame the schools and an overly permissive society that looks the other way when wet waste gets combined with dry, and cans and bins are not aligned smartly along the curb after pick-up. And more money simply isn't going to help: would you give crack addicts more money because they can't hold their pipe properly when they light it?
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carlmalone
Sbrof: There is a reason why you are not in a position of power.
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sbrof
carlmalone, there is a reason why nothing changes in this town. People who get into power refuse to acknowledge poor performance and settle for the status quo. I wish our politicians had the balls to actually fire people who don't do their job. Why should people keep their job if they don't do it properly?
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sbrof
and Balth, i never said yell and scream. People should be given the chance to change and better themselves. No one should get fired without proper reason but keeping people just because you don't want to hurt someone's feelings even though they are wasting tax payer dollars is not helping the city.
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