BATAVIA – The City Council on Monday approved allocating last year’s $1.3 million surplus from operations into a number of capital reserve funds for future needs.

The city, which was struggling with million-dollar-a-year operating losses only a few years ago, has regained solid footing with annual budget surpluses.

The latest surplus will go to the following capital projects:

• $300,000 for improvements to Richmond Avenue and North Street.

• $300,000 for fire equipment.

• $250,000 for public works equipment and improvements.

• $115,000 for a public facilities reserve fund.

• $150,000 for retirement contributions, $100,000 for sidewalk reconstruction, $100,000 to a reserve fund for health insurance claims and $25,000 for accrued employee benefits.

The amounts will be held in reserve until projects are launched, and the reserves can be used for partial payment.

The cross-city Richmond North corridor, for example, whose 12,000 average daily vehicle count is twice other major side streets, needs a $1 million resurfacing. Necessary sidewalk repairs are estimated to cost $3 million.

City contributions to the state retirement system have jumped nearly $1 million in the last five years, an increase of 63 percent.

Fire Department equipment is aging. A replacement for a 22-year-old engine/pumper recently was approved, and two other pieces – an engine/pumper and a ladder truck – are 10 and 17 years old, respectively.

Also approved was a renewal of an intermunicipal agreement with Genesee County on sharing real property tax assessments and management functions.