Deciding prudent borrowing for capital projects is next step
LYNN MARINELLI Legislature Chairperson
Just as homeowners determine capital improvements, so does government, mostly with public health, safety, economic development and community projects. Decisions are weighed on needs versus wants, priorities, costs, timelines and market conditions.

The county will need to borrow approximately $50 million - perhaps more - to accomplish the 2008 projects outlined by the executive in response to the Legislature. Public investment in capital projects requires prioritized planning and routine tracking of their progress and project completion reporting.

Timely project implementation will also need to be followed jointly by the comptroller and the Control Board. The previous lack of a decision about who would borrow has left capital projects management in a state of confusion. Delays intensify the need for further improvement in capital projects scheduling and progress reporting and demand clarification of the status of projects for 2007.

The Legislature will address what amount of borrowing is most reasonable relating to previous year debt obligation reduction. The 2008 budget plans to pay off about $67 million in general debt and almost $6 million for sewer districts. The Finance and Management Committee will review the status of 2007 project borrowing and earmarked 2008 projects to determine the amount to be submitted to the bond market. These are some of the items identified by the county executive's office:

General projects - $2.8 million at Ralph Wilson Stadium; $1 million at Botanical Gardens; $5 million for Convention Center renovations; $700,000 each for code compliance, county buildings roof replacement and highway vehicles replacement.

Highway projects - $3.8 million in capital overlay; $1 million for federal aid road reconstruction; $181,150 for intersection improvement; $116,160 for road design; $485,000 for FEMA road reconstruction; and $11.5 million for and preservation of roads and bridges.

Sheriff - $2.5 million Correctional Facility roof and $175,000 in video surveillance upgrades; an $800,000 renovation to the Yankee Compound; and $700,000 for health records module upgrades.

Division Of Information - $ 1 million in computer replacement and upgrades, $300,000 for data information storage; and $290,000 for fiber optic network, $290,000.

Health - $900,000 medical information system; $200,000 security improvements at clinics; $155,000 medical examiner cooler/ freezer system replacement.

Emergency Services - $1.4 million in public safety communications and $2 million in Training Center renovations.

Library - $150,000 to replace the fuel tank, parking lot and add storage space.

The 2008 county budget proposed other items on the county executive list as well as seven other projects, not currently included,

such as Frank Lloyd Wright boathouse, Buffalo Zoo, clerk's office purchase of equipment, Bethlehem Steel site redevelopment, downtown library escalator replacement and asbestos removal, cuts from bike trails and bridge projects. Also not included was a legislative request for $500,000 toward city of Buffalo roads.