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Advisory committee to submit $375,000 Syracuse University allocations; members say funding has not increased with expansion
Summary
The University Neighborhood Service Agreement Advisory Committee voted to submit recommended allocations of $375,000 provided by Syracuse University to the Syracuse Common Council and raised concerns that the funding amount has not changed despite serving additional neighborhoods.
The University Neighborhood Service Agreement Advisory Committee recommended allocations of $375,000 that Syracuse University provides under its long-running shared services agreement with the City of Syracuse and will submit those recommendations to the Syracuse Common Council.
The committee, which reviewed applications in advance of the meeting, also heard members urge an earlier review of the university agreement and argued the funding level has not kept pace with geographic expansion of the program.
Tanya Eastman, director of Neighborhood Grants, said the committee met in recent weeks and “went through all the applications, and really, was very happy to see projects that really, are meant to fulfill the spirit of the service agreement.” The allocations Eastman discussed are the committee’s draft recommendations for the $375,000 in annual funding Syracuse University provides through the shared services agreement between Syracuse University and the City of Syracuse.
Petrona Jones Rausser, district 4 representative and an applicant on behalf of TNT, said she has served intermittently on the committee and said members “have expressed during several meetings the ask for additional funding.” Rausser added that the original project began roughly 25 years ago and that “the funding has not changed.” She said the agreement now covers two additional neighborhoods and called for discussions about expanding funds sooner than waiting for the full contract renegotiation: “I think we can have those conversations at any point in time.”
A meeting participant identified as James Williams of Blueprint 15 introduced himself to the committee and did not offer further comment beyond his affiliation.
Committee staff said the current contract term is the last year under the existing agreement, which is structured in five-year increments. Staff noted the contract has been renewed repeatedly over roughly three decades and that renegotiation is expected before the next funding cycle. The committee chair said the draft allocations and overview will be sent to the Common Council for approval.
Staff also said the public comment period on the recommendations remains open through the 30th of the month. The committee indicated the Common Council will consider the recommendations at an upcoming council meeting.
