Buffalo may hike special event fees for the first time since '07

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)... The last time Buffalo raised the fees for hosting special events, the Buffalo Sabres had just beat the New York Rangers in the NHL's 2007 playoffs.

It has been that long.

Now, with the city facing a $109 million budget gap in its proposed $682 million 2026-2027 budget, leaders are looking at any - and all - possible ways to help bridge that canyon-like fiscal hole.

Among the ways under consideration is an increase in fees for special events, especially those that rely on police or fire department details.

"Unfortunately, we are dealing with the real costs of these events," said Deputy Mayor Ben Swanekamp..

Swanekamp says it boils down to a math problem.

According to the current special event fee package, the city charges the event $65 an hour for police details. In reality, it costs the city $114 an hour - that alone is nearly $50 swing.

The proposed increase comes against the backdrop of Mayor Sean Ryan pushing for more special events in downtown and elsewhere in the city.

Events run the gamut from large scale draws like Buffalo Sabres' watch parties or the Taste of Buffalo to smaller ones like "Chalk Fest."

Does Ryan's push for more downtown special events fly in the face of a special events fee increase?

Developer Rocco Termini, who is planning several special events along Ellicott Street, thinks the impact will be minimal.

"It probably won't be much of impact," Termini said.

Special event fees are not a large budget item.

"They aren't there to hurt the little guy," Termini said. "They are there to cover costs."

In the current 2025-2026 fiscal year, just $250,000 was budgeted in special event fees.

For the 2026-2027 budget year, $304,000 has been allocated in special event fees.

Swanekamp said the city will be diligent in collecting the fees, just as it planning to do with other fees, fines and taxes.

In the current fiscal, just slightly more than $67,000 has been collected in special event fees.

Last year, slightly more than 2,000 special event permits were issued but the city collected fees on just 10% - or 200 of the events, Swanekamp said.

"We have budget issues and nothing should be discounted," Swanekamp said.