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The board decided to give $300,000 toward the animal shelter’s search for a new location or possible renovations as a gesture of good faith after many showed up to a public hearing on the topic a couple of weeks ago. The board had originally not planned to give the shelter any money for the project this year, despite its $2 million request, because a site had not been chosen.
“It compromises the situation,” board member Mike Totilo said at a meeting Tuesday night.
The shelter is not sufficient for the animals it serves, board members said. A new one is needed, and the board would be willing to give more money if a site were picked, members said. The shelter can also go to the city for supplemental funding if a site were picked and money was needed to start construction, board Chairman Theresa Dell said.
Other proposed increases include the third phase of Scalzi Park work, better lighting at Scalzi, maintenance to handball courts and a Cummings Park improvement site plan.
This year’s proposal is significantly lower than last year’s $61.6 million proposed capital budget because it does not include anything for the Board of Education. The schools received a $50 million bond, which will cover all of its projects for next year.
The budget must go to the mayor’s office by Friday. Mayor Michael Pavia can change it as he sees fit when he releases his spending plan for the city for 2013-14 in March.
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