By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Place has a budget for 2005. The group's board of directors approved a more than $3 million spending plan Wednesday.
Next year's Buffalo Place budget is actually $600,000 lower than the current year's. That's because the financially-strapped city cut funding for a downtown parking shuttle service Buffalo Place runs. But Executive Director Michael Schmand says the shuttle will continue.
"We are looking at someone else to take over the shuttle system down the road," Schmand said. "But for now, Buffalo Place will be involved along with the NFTA to provide 900 downtown workers with low-cost parking."
The Buffalo Place budget holds the line on the charge it assesses on downtown property owners within its boundaries. Schmand said that generates about $1.2 million. He said the popular Thursday at the Square concert series is another source of income.
"We'll hopefully bring in next year about $1 million," Schmand said.
Erie County is also providing Buffalo Place with $100,000 in funding.