Council amends and approves funding approach for firefighter turnout gear after dispute over CDBG use

The City of Binghamton City Council voted 7-0 to approve Introductory Ordinance O25-56, which amends the 2025 general fund budget to purchase firefighting equipment after debate over whether community development block grant (CDBG) funding should be used.

Council Member Kavanaugh introduced the ordinance and earlier discussion noted the council had previously rejected the mayor's June proposal to use CDBG funds for turnout gear. Several council members said the turnout gear is a critical need but argued CDBG was not the appropriate funding source. During debate, councilors described a disagreement with Mayor Cram over who has authority to move funds; council members said the council could authorize a movement of fund balance subject to approval by the comptroller and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

To address the administrative questions, the council amended the ordinance text to specify that the council is recommending the general fund budget be amended "to allow for the purchase of additional turnout gear of the fire department" and that the budget transfer would be "subject to approval by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment." The amendment passed by roll call (7-0), and the ordinance as amended also passed 7-0.

The meeting record shows a mix of procedural disagreement and shared intent: councilors emphasized the objective is to get firefighters the necessary turnout gear through what they described as the most appropriate funding mechanism. Council members said the city comptroller will review transfers for legality and availability of funds as part of the normal process.

Next steps: The ordinance passed by council moves to the administrative steps required for the fund transfer and any further approvals referenced in the amended language. Council members mentioned potential follow-up funding needs for EMS vehicles ("medic fly cars") that could be considered in the same mechanism, but no additional ordinance was introduced at this meeting.