BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....By the slimes of margins, an eleventh-hour amended budget from Mayor Sean Ryan was narrowly approved by the Buffalo Common Council..
The amended $670 million 2026-2027 budget passed 5-4 just hours before Ryan's original $682 million budget - and its 25.8% property tax increase - would have taken effect come July 1.
With the budget, the property tax hike was reduced to 19%. Future property tax hikes are looming as Ryan looks to make the city fiscally solvent within the nexr four years.
The property tax will fill a $109 projected budget deficit.
"No one is doing a victory dance," said South District Councilman and former acting Mayor Chris Scanlon.
In the amended budget, some revenue adjustments were made by Ryan and some positions were either left vacant or outright eliminated.
Proposed amendments from North District Councilman Joseph Golembek and Majority Leader Leah Halton-Pope lacked support from their fellow city lawmakers.
"It was a frustrating process," Golembek said,
Voting for the budget was Council President Joel Feroleto, Scanlon, Niagara District Councilman David Rivera, University District Councilman Rasheed NC Wyatt and Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski
Masten District Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart, Lovejoy Disrict Councilman Bryan Bollman, Golembek and Halton-Pope voted against the budget
Property tax hike cut 19%
Property tax hike cut 19%
