Mayor Bill Peduto unveiled a proposed $518 million operating budget and a $70 million capital budget for 2016 on Monday, which have no tax increases. And the plan includes a projected surplus of $5.9 million. Peduto outlined plans to shore up the city’s pension fund, raise the amount the city puts toward infrastructure, and hire 120 new police officer recruits.
He also wants to resurface 60 miles of city roads, hire more building inspectors, and fund a smartphone app for the 311 center. Bike lane extensions and bridge improvements, radios for school crossing guards, and funding for senior centers are also included in the proposal.
“Our 200th anniversary year in 2016 is the perfect time to look back on our city’s accomplishments while looking ahead to how we will build for the future,” Peduto said in a statement accompanying the budget. “In the past our city was built by iron, steel, glass and water, but our most precious resource now is our people, and this budget shows all the ways we will invest in them in the future.”
City council will schedule a series of hearings over the coming weeks, and must vote on a final budget by the end of the year. A tentative vote is scheduled for Dec. 15th.
For the mayor’s full proposed 2016 operating budget, click here.
For the mayor’s full proposed capital plan, click here.