BUFFALO
Friction between Council and mayor could derail capital budget agreement
A capital budget conflict in City Hall took an unexpected twist Tuesday afternoon that could derail a tentative deal between the Common Council and Mayor Byron W. Brown.
Following weeks of dissension, the two sides said they had reached a truce in a dispute that threatened to leave the city with inadequate funds to mend roads and sidewalks.
But several hours after the accord was announced, officials from the two factions said a new wrinkle surfaced that casts uncertainty over whether an amended budget will be considered at a special Council meeting today.
Officials from Brown’s office said it was always understood that the accord hinged on getting unanimous Council support to receive and file Brown’s vetoes, then pass a revised spending plan. Late Tuesday, Majority Leader Richard A. Fontana informed the mayor’s office that some lawmakers wanted to go on record against the vetoes. The absence of a united front would likely put in jeopardy the support of some Council members who are allied with Brown.
The conflict erupted last month after the Council abolished a citywide fund for capital needs, carving the money into nine pots — one for each district.
Brown objected, claiming it would fuel “pork barrel” spending and limit the city’s flexibility to deal with public works emergencies. He vetoed nearly $3 million in funding for four Council districts — all represented by lawmakers who supported the separate pots of money.
The Council’s ruling majority struggled without success to find a sixth vote to override the vetoes. Absent an override, the city would have $3 million less to pay for capital funding needs in the coming year.
Council leaders and Brown administration officials had numerous conversations in recent weeks to try to end the stalemate.
The tentative deal announced Tuesday would still create separate funding pots for Council districts, but each pot would contain only $150,000. The Council’s budget would have earmarked $743,150 for district-specific needs. Under the tentative agreement, the remaining money vetoed by Brown would be restored and placed in a citywide public works account.
Franczyk said he has “no regrets” in the push to set aside larger pots of money for districts.
“You have to fight for your districts and for your city,” he said. “But politics is about compromise. No one gets 100 percent of what they want.”
Brown said he’s pleased with the arrangement, adding his administration was always willing to create the $150,000 district funding pots.
“This is the appropriate way the capital budget should be handled,” said Brown.
The Council will meet in special session at 2 p. m. today. It faces a Thursday deadline for taking action on the budget.
If the deal is approved, the city’s portion of the capital budget will total $21.5 million. It will include funds for projects that range from improvements at parks and recreation centers, to the demolition of decaying buildings. In addition to the funding for city projects, the budget earmarks $5.1 million for ongoing renovations at city schools.
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