Mayor won't veto, says the money's not there
Democrats at Syracuse City Hall are wrangling over two million dollars the council wants to add to the city budget
SYRACUSE -- Syracuse's Common Council passed the city budget, as expected, Monday afternoon. The unexpected: Syracuse's Mayor called a news conference minutes after to say she will not spend part of what the councilors approved.
At issue: Six amendments that would add $2 million to the spending package. Councilors say the money would come from sales tax revenues. Onondaga County's money people project the city will get $4 million more in sales taxes the coming year, and councilors thought they could spend some of it. The mayor says not so fast.
"I, as mayor, cannot be forced to spend money, particularly can't be forced to spend money that we don't have," says Stephanie Miner. "So we will, for example, we will never know if wer're going to get that additional money 'til about a year from now. How could we give extra money that would help pay for teaching assistants, which need to be hired in September if we don't get the money til the following May?"
Mayor Miner says she won't veto the budget amendments, but will just refuse to spend the money. She says she advised the councilors - Democrats like herself - that she thinks the county sales tax projections are unrealistically high, and that the city needs money to cover other 'unexpecteds' like increasing health and pension costs.
Councilor Lance Denno, speaking for the council, says "The Council made a decision based on the information that we had, and we believe it was appropriate given the current fiscal situation and the needs of the community."
We will see how big the fight will be, as councilors push for funding for projects they've been talking about, in cases for years.
Here's what the six amendments would fund:
~ An economic development revolving fund, to jump-start business, $1-million
~ Reinstating 15 school teaching assistants: $750,000
~ A Downtown Senior Initiative, seed money: $250,000
~ Facilities Engineer position for Parks Department: $55,000
~ Citizen Review Board funding: $20,000
~ City Clerk's office part-time clerk: $18,000
