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Council approves $90,000 assistant engineer pay amid debate over deputy engineer slot and large capital projects
Summary
City engineer asked council to retain a $120,000 deputy engineer line and to increase an assistant city engineer salary to $90,000; council amended the budget to raise the assistant position and approved the amendment 5–0. The engineering capital program includes multiple grant-funded projects and high-cost repair needs.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The city engineer and councilors debated staffing levels and large capital projects for the 2026 engineering budget on Thursday, and council voted to increase the assistant city engineer salary to $90,000.
City Engineer Lake said the department has been unable to recruit for a deputy engineer position and proposed an adjustment to salary lines to make the roles competitive with the private market. "I would like to keep the deputy engineer potential position at a 120,000. I don't wanna lower that, but I'm all for raising the assistant engineer to 90," Lake told council.
Council members pressed for justification and asked whether personnel had completed market comparisons. Lake said he had discussed recruiting with personnel and that private-sector pay and benefits (401(k), bonuses) made recruitment difficult.
After a motion to amend the budget to increase the assistant city engineer line by $7,764 (to set the salary at $90,000), the council approved the amendment by roll call, five ayes, zero nays. The clerk recorded votes by name: Council member Rathmell — aye; Council member Madovetsky — aye; Council member Hotchkiss — aye; Council member Middleton — aye; Chair Robert Kavanaugh — aye. The amendment was to be funded from contingency and the council noted contingency had available funds.
The engineering presentation also covered capital lines and several large projects that are in planning or design: a multi-million-dollar mill-and-pave program supported by CHIPs funding, Clinton Street reconstruction tied to a $5 million DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) allocation, Memorial Bridge design in 2026 with construction anticipated in 2027, Shenango Street reconstruction, Ball Avenue drainage work and several sewer pump-station rehabs previously flagged by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Lake said some projects are grant-dependent and construction timing could stretch 1–3 years.
Council members asked for a clearer timeline of which capital projects are likely to move to construction in 2026 and suggested staff provide a project-status chart to clarify phasing and funding commitments. The engineering pages were left open for further budget revisions.
