"The fact that we have this extra money has really been a breath of fresh air," councilman Tom Waniewski said.

He's talking about millions of dollars and it's come as a bit of a surprise.

City leaders point to about $5.5 million dollars in additional income tax revenue, around $4.3 million is savings from a jail lawsuit win and $800,000 in one-time operational and personnel savings for the budget surplus.

$2.1 million has already been set aside for vehicles for the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, leaving around $8.5 million dollars left over.

The question is: where should it be spent?

"We want to see: what's the best mix of financial stability reserves to help us be more bullet proof against the next recession? And: what are those priority needs in terms of infrastructure and operations?," city finance director, Tom Skrobola told 13abc.

Waniewski adds, "if we were able to do something where taxpayers, residents, see an immediate benefit then that's what I would like to see."

Waniewski, who chairs the budget oversight committee, points to residential roads. Many, he says, are in terrible shape and on pace to get worse.

But, he also sees the importance of beefing up the reserve funds and even using that money to stop the transfer of Capital Improvement Program, CIP, cash to the general fund to balance the budget.

"It can eliminate all or most of that," he said. "The residents win because they're getting residential roads paved and it really looks good not to transfer that."

The administration says there are no immediate plans to spend or shift those dollars, so, for now, they'll stay put.

The next step is for council to weigh its options and come up with a plan.

"It's up to city council now to look at those numbers and craft a budget amendment that takes into account this extra money and determine where we want to place this money," Waniewski said.

Council will likely vote on the 5-year CIP budget proposal in two weeks.

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