Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan says property taxes in the city could rise at least 25% to close a budget gap of approximately $109 million.
"The eye-popping number is the absolute recklessness in which City government has been run," Ryan told WBEN. "Here's how we're handling it differently, I'm telling the truth. I'm putting out there what the actual city finances are. I'm not trying to hide it. I'm not trying to pretend."
Ryan says a different approach is necessary to face the budget hole.
"We're trying to get a lot of things in order, trying to tax vacant properties different, trying to tax investment properties different, doing a foreclosure auction, putting accountability measures in place in City Hall, but there's no way we're getting out of this year without a pretty big increase," he said.
The mayor added the city needs to buy garbage trucks, snow plows and police cars. He also told WBEN this tax increase may not be the last, but it will be the largest he proposes.
"It took years to get in such bad shape, and it's going to take us a few years to get out of it," Ryan said. "But there's no more magic budgeting where you can pretend the budget is balanced but take all the money out of reserve accounts."
The budget has to be officially released by April 15. The Common Council will have until May 26 to make any changes and adopt it.