By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Bishop Edward Kmiec has approved a more than $17 million administrative budget for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo for the coming coming year.
The diocese ended the last year fiscal year on August 31st with a $2.1 million deficit. Still, this year's budget is significantly higher because of a $6 million increase in spending on Catholic elementary schools. The diocese announced earlier this year that all parishes, not just those with schools, are now being required to pay an assessment for Catholic education at the grade school level.
The coming year's budget includes nearly $2 million in cuts. The Newman Centers at the ECC City and North Campuses will be closed while several administrative posts were eliminated.
In a written statement released Wednesday, Bishop Kmiec said some "difficult yet necessary decisions" were made to balance the budget.