BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) With two weeks to go before Mayor Sean Ryan officially delivers his 2026-2027 city budget to the Buffalo Common Council, some members used part of their March 31 meeting to voice frustrations that centered on a number of aspects related to the budget.
Chief among the concerns:
* Ryan releasing budget information to the media before the council.
"We are not seeing a lot of transparency now," said Rasheed N.C. Wyatt, University District councilman.
* The now-controversial 25% property tax increase.
"Out of left field, he (Ryan) comes up that," Wyatt said.
* Foregoing a previously-approved plan to sell four downtown parking ramps and instead ask the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority to bond as much as $500 million in deficit bonds - something that would need state approval because the control board only has a $175 million bonding limit.
"That is very misleading," said South District Councilman Chris Scanlon, and former acting mayor who presented the sale of parking ramps last year.
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said she is not in favor of the control board being authorized to increase its bonding capacity.
* A solid set of numbers.
Council members were surprised when Ryan said the budget deficit could be as high as $109 million. Earlier numbers had the deficit in the $54 million range.
"We have to have actual numbers," said Mitch Nowakowski, Fillmore District Councilman.
"We are continuing to go down path and we might not have realistic numbers," added Joseph Golembek Jr., North District councilman.
Combined, it may make for a tough budget negotiation period until the council votes on May 26.
Council Majority Leader and Ellicott District Councilwoman Leah Halton-Pope said that's why both the council and, separately, Ryan, have asked state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to conduct an independent audit.
Ryan is waiting for a formal response from DiNapoli, as is the council.
"It's only fair that we know what the real numbers are," Halton-Pope said.
Wyatt, for instance, wants a hard look at Buffalo's overtime costs and see if they can be reigned in given the city's limited funds.
"We have some people earning $300,000 because of OT and that's not necessary," Wyatt said. "They are making a lot of money off of people who suffering because of this budget."
Frustrations aside, Halton-Pope said the override issue is how will the proposed budget impact everyday citizens and businesses.
Ryan said the 25% property tax increase would amount to a hike of $30 per month in property taxes, for the average Buffalo house assessed at $202,000.
Halton-Pope says that is too much.
"We have to look out for all the people," Halton-Pope said.
Council growing frustrated with proposed 2026-2027 budget
