Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown has submitted his proposed 2018 capital budget to the Common Council. The $22.8 million dollar plan includes improvements to streets, sidewalks and buildings while setting the wheels in motion for some all-new facilities.
The spending proposal is a $2.8 million increase from 2017. The administration sees the plan as one providing capital improvements that will increase service efficiencies that will, in turn, lower operational costs.
Suggested funding includes $6.8 million for street and sidewalk improvements throughout the city, including the addition of more bicycle lanes, $1.5 million for property demolition, $1.3 million for new Sanitation and Parks equipment and millions more for improvements to numerous city-owned buildings.
It also begins the process of planning and building two new facilities: a $5 million fire hall and a $4 million animal shelter. Where they are located, according to the mayor, will be determined during the planning process.
"The goal is to start planning for these major capital projects and needs in 2018," Mayor Brown said. "These are projects that require detailed planning to ensure they meet the needs of the city and our residents for decades to come."
The Buffalo Fire Department will benefit from additional spending. Funding is set aside to repair Engines 22, 28 and 35. Buffalo Police, meanwhile, would get a new garage roof with the $850,000 set aside for that project.
The mayor's plan also calls for investing $2 million to upgrade the East Side Transfer Station, where all of the city's garbage is handled. Additionally, the proposed budget continues support of projects already approved in 2017. Funding to continue those projects will be provided through bond sales.
"There's $370,000 to rehab the Shoshone pool for its opening during the 2018 swimming season," Brown said. "We propose spending $500,000 at Coca Cola Field in the ongoing effort to improve seating, $500,000 to refurbish the exterior of the Broadway Market along with an additional $357,000 for continued interior improvements to the Market."
The plan also includes $614,944 for the third phase of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus / Allen Street entrance, half a million dollars to demolish the old Bailey Bridges and $347,750 to build an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant elevator inside the Crane Library.
