By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Tensions mounted Thursday as uncertainty over state borrowing and a looming control board leaves a great deal of doubt for Buffalo lawmakers and residents. The Common Council voted to adopt a new city budget for the fiscal year starting July 1st.
The Council approved an amended budget after almost three hours of debate. But the vote caused a racial divide. Seven white lawmakers voted in favor and six African American Council members said "no."
Black lawmakers say they opposed a 7.2 percent property tax hike, an increase in the garbage user fee and a cut in youth services. University District lawmaker Betty Jean Grant says the budget should not be balanced on the backs of taxpayers.
The Council's spending plan restores funding to keep a number of senior citizen centers open, but it cuts Youth Court.
The amended package trims $1 million in spending. But that still leaves Buffalo with a $24 million budget gap. City Finance Commissioner James Milroy told lawmakers he has no idea how much the control board will allow the city to borrow. But Milroy warned that the board would probably have the ability to recommend additional cuts to the budget.
Milroy says he believes the control board's ultimate goal is to maintain essential services while decreasing the city's dependency on borrowing.