Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) "We've delayed making tough decisions," said Niagara District Common Council member David Rivera on WBEN Wednesday, while discussing the city's fiscal crisis.
"It's not just the former mayor or the current mayor. We all bear responsibility.
Our revenues are flat and expenditures are high. We knew this for a long time," he said.
The city of Buffalo is facing a projected deficit north of $50 million dollars.
While preparing the next budget, Mayor Chris Scanlon recently proposed selling city owned parking ramps and adding a 3% hotel tax as ways to close the gap.
"Selling parking ramps to an authority for, let's say, $45 million, is a one time fix," cautioned Rivera. "We won't have that revenue in the future."
University District Councilman Rasheed Wyatt also telling WBEN that it has to come down to cutting expenses.
"We cannot continue to run the city on the backs of taxpayers and seniors with increased user fees and water rates," said Wyatt.
Rivera noted that Erie County revenues are flat. "We're going to get less sales tax revenue because of the economy and tariff issues with Canada. State aid has also been flat. We have to find ways to cut. It's not sustainable."
Wyatt noted that one of the biggest parts of the budget is overtime for police and fire. "Crime is down and fires are down. So, why are we paying so much overtime?" He added that overtime also affects pension costs that the city has to pay.
Mayor Scanlon will present his proposed city budget next Tuesday, April 8.
Rivera said the writing has been on the wall.
"We've gone through 100 million dollars in reserve funds and have refused to make changes. Every political year, there were no new taxes. As a result of that, we went right through our reserve funds. We don't have American Rescue Funds any longer. And I don't expect the federal government to give the city another $300 million dollars. We have some severe financial problems. But the head winds have been there for a long time"