Additional State Funding May Not Come To Utica

The City of Utica may not be receiving the additional $1.6 million dollars as the Common Council had hoped.

Councilman Jim Zecca says that although the city may not receive more money through Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) funding, it will receive added money from the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, or CHIPS.

Last night, the Common Council had discussed using a portion of the possible AIM funding to replenish money removed from the Police Administration Automobile Equipment line of the budget, valued at $143,530.

Zecca says without the AIM money, Utica cannot replenish its reserve fund or pay for new police vehicles.

UPDATE: State Senator Joe Griffo says although the numbers are not completely set in stone, he doesn't think the city will receive the AIM funding. Griffo says CHIPS funding will be increased by $75 million dollars for the entire state.

He went on to note that the increase in CHIPS funds is still "a significant boost from recent years."

UPDATE: Assemblyman Brindisi is not commenting on the possible funding, but says it is still early in the budget process.