The $43 million settlement to a woman paralyzed from the neck down in 2020 after being struck by a police officer’s SUV could end up costing Buffalo taxpayers as much as $50 million.
The Buffalo Common Council’s Finance Committee recommended approval Tuesday for the issuance of a $43 million bond to pay for Chelsea Ellis’ pain and suffering, lost wages and what it will cost to care for her the rest of her life.
The bond will be paid back over five years, and the city will set aside between $9 million to $10 million annually to cover principal and interest costs, said Gregg Szymanski, investment and debt management officer in the Buffalo Comptroller’s Office.
If approved, the settlement amount would be the city’s largest to date, said Buffalo Common Council Member Christopher P. Scanlon, who represents the South District.
The total payout over the five years will be about $47 million to $50 million, he said.
The $43 million settlement amount, which the Council approved last week, is the city’s largest to date, and it represents about 7% of what the city spends in a year. The city’s budget for the current 2023-24 fiscal year includes $576 million in spending.
“This is an unprecedented settlement for the City of Buffalo,” Corporation Counsel…
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