By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County lawmakers have struggled for months with tough choices over tax hikes and service cuts. Now lawmakers must decide what gets fixed or built in the coming year.
There are 49 items currently on the $56 million capital bond wish list. Some of it is what you'd expect -- bridge and road repair, plumbing and roofing and heating. But what about Wi-Fi upgrades? A design for a zoo rain forest or a shredding facility? How about another $4 million for the county's SAP computer system that's already sapped millions? Democratic Majority Leader Marinelli says they should only be looking at the bare essentials.
"I don't know what the bond markets are going to allow this county to do for capital borrowing this year," said Marinelli. "We have a revenue note, by the end of the year, they already anticipate doing a revenue anticipation note. And we have deficit financing. How much can you afford to do if any of some of these?"
The $2.6 million of repairs to Ralph Wilson Stadium must be done by contract. But Marinelli says the rest is up for grabs. Erie Community College officials argue their repairs aren't optional. And the CFO, William Reuter says they've waited long enough.
"We've gone each and every year in regards to masonry projects, not a glitzy project, it's not a new building, it's just repairing the cracks in the mortar where we have water seeping in throughout the entire city campus," said Reuter.
College officials say, if the building can't be maintained, they might just close it. Library officials say they might soon have to look at closings too. Library Director Mahaney says they agreed to put central library renovations on hold. But he says they must have about $6 million for books and materials.
"We have exhausted all of our previous reservoirs of funds," said Maheny. "I hope they will approve it, even though it will be a capital outlay, because the ibrary is desperate for that money."
But lawmaker Marinelli says a capital bond is no place for books.
"Why should we borrow and have our next generation be paying back for books and materials. That should be an operational item," said Marinelli.
Lawmakers continue to grapple with the demands this week as they attempt to whittle down the capital bond. A vote on the matter could come this Thursday.