By Mark Scheer
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
A trio of city lawmakers is looking to impose a freeze on discretionary spending as they begin work on the 2011 municipal budget.
Council Chairman Sam Fruscione and fellow council members Steve Fournier Jr. and Robert Anderson have sponsored a resolution calling on Mayor Paul Dyster and his administration to direct all department heads to suspend non-essential purchases through Dec. 31. Fruscione said the move is being made on the advice of City Comptroller Maria Brown who has told lawmakers the city could be faced with reductions in state aid next year. He added that the Seneca Nation of Indians’ recent decision to withhold slot machine revenue payments to the state could have an impact on the city’s 2011 finances as well.
Fruscione said the department heads would be asked to avoid spending money on clothing, travel and non-essential items to allow the city to retain a larger fund balance at the end of the year. By having more money heading into 2011, Fruscione said he’s hopeful the council will be in a better position to avoid cuts in personnel if revenues decline as predicted.
“We are looking to the future because we anticipate a deficit in the budget,” Fruscione said. “I want to save some money so I don’t have to do any reductions in the workforce, especially the workforce that provides services to the public.”
The resolution directs the mayor and City Administrator Donna Owens to direct all city department heads to “cease spending on discretionary items regardless of the fact that surplus may exist in their respective budgets.” The proposal would not prevent department heads from purchases tied to items they are obligated to buy under existing contracts or agreements. The proposal also gives department heads the opportunity to apply to the mayor and city administrator for permission to spend money on discretionary items they feel are necessary for the respective departments. The resolution does not cover any spending of casino revenues pursuant to future council actions.
The measure is expected to be voted on during the council’s next meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
