SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A battle could be brewing between Syracuse's mayor and the Common Council over a new budget. The councilors say updated information shows the city will receive about $4 million more in sales tax monies in the coming year.
After a public hearing on the spending plan, they've called for $2 million to be placed back in the budget to fund several items. Among them, a million dollar economic development loan fund for small business, additional school district monies to rehire teaching assistants, and potential matching funds for a private effort to again open a downtown senior citizen center.
The administration says any extra money should be applied to deficit problems, but the councilors say the per-dollar cost of the additions is, in their words, miniscule.
“In the city budget of virtually$300 million, what we're talking about is less than a penny. About the half a penny you can see there,” said Syracuse Common Council Majority Leader Lance Denno.
The mayor could veto the changes, but councilors say all nine members will back the plan -- more than enough to override a veto.