Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - When the Buffalo Common Council approved the mayor's city budget back in May with just hours to spare to meet the deadline, Council President Chris Scanlon noted it was one of the toughest budgets the body has faced during his tenure.
Now city lawmakers are looking to ensure they have adequate review time for the next one.
Council members Rasheed Wyatt and Leah Halton-Pope introduced on Tuesday a series of local laws that would not only give a new deadline for the Mayor and his office to submit the budget, but extend the approval deadline in order to improve budgeting procedures and financial planning under Article 20 of the city's Charter.
"The mayor submits his budget to us according to Charter by May 1. We have to deliberate on it and return it back to him by May 22. That truly isn't enough time, it's never been enough time because were always in a rush to go over things and try to get it back," said Wyatt, the city's University District Councilman.
Wyatt is requesting the Mayor to submit his budget on April 1, with the Council deadline for budget additions be extended to May 26.
The Council is also asking Mayor Byron Brown's Office to inform the governing party of proposed changes to the City Charter by March 1, an example being increasing the tax levy.
"This year, they brought us a increase in the tax levy, which we had no time to deliberate. It was presented to us one day and it was approved the next, which is just unconscionable. We're asking that those type things be brought to us [well in advance] so that we can make better, sound decisions on the budget, which we know that going forward, is going to be very, very dicey times," Councilman Wyatt explained.
If all is approved by the Council and the Mayor's office as initially proposed, these proposals would create the following schedule for the next city budget.
- Feb 1: Budget estimates due (new date)
- March 1: Fiscal impact statement/proposed changes to Charter amendment (new date)
- April 1: Mayor's earlier budget submission (change from May 1)
- May 26: Council deadline for budget additions (change from May 22)
Council members Halton-Pope and Wyatt are also asking for a more detailed four-year proposal plan.
"I'm just appalled that we don't get any type of financial analysis, you give us numbers on a page, and you tell us that you are good with the numbers," said Wyatt, who has extensive background and education in finance.
"Demonstrate to me through an analysis that these numbers are solid, just like the recommendations regarding the hotel revenue. Those are numbers we've never seen before. I don't know what the total number is that we've been getting or the county gets. We don't have any of that information, the only thing they tell us is that we feel comfortable. So again, making sure that the numbers that we're getting even through the format for your financial plan are legitimate numbers that make sense is really important."
These proposals are now in legislation committee and are expected to be voted on within two weeks.
Additionally, the Council adopted a resolution that will require a public hearing after the mayor announces his budget plan and before the Council submits it for approval.
