Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick revealed his proposal for the 2019 City Budget during this week’s Common Council meeting. His proposal includes $59 million in expenses, including some new transportation-related spending. Keep in mind that this is merely a proposal, as the Common Council makes all the final decisions on the budget.
Public Works
Myrick is proposing a big increase in the number of public works staffers.
Potholes are still a huge problem in Ithaca. So next year I’m proposing we double our street crew. If adopted we will be able to fill twice the number of potholes, install more sidewalks, and fix up more parks.
— Mayor Svante Myrick (@SvanteMyrick) October 5, 2018
That amounts to an addition of seven new DPW employees. If approved, they’ll start being phased into the City’s workforce starting on March 1st at a cost of $450,000.
Another proposal in the plan is for the city to buy new equipment for thermal striping roads, and also purchase new pipes to help stop or reduce ice jam flooding.
TCAT Funding Boost
The proposal also includes an increase in funding for TCAT. Myrick proposed that the City raise their financial support of the County’s public transportation by 8.7%. That $72,000 increase brings the city’s contribution to $910,432. Funding for Gadabout, which provides public transportation for senior citizens and people with disabilities in Tompkins County will remain the same at $56,000.
For a bit of light reading
Click to see the Mayor’s 2019 Budget Proposal presentation, as delivered to the Common Council.
Click to read the Mayor’s full budget narrative.
Click to read the individual line items in the budget proposal.
Michael Pyskaty 