Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon's budget cleared a major hurdle Monday as it was confirmed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie that a 3% hotel bed tax and the establishment of the Buffalo Parking and Mobility Authority will be included in the state's spending plan.
Scanlon needed state approval on those two pieces of policy, which the mayor is relying on to make up for a deficit of around $70 million. The parking authority would allow the city to sell its parking ramps, which Mayor Scanlon said last month would create $40-$60 million in revenue for the city.
Scanlon's proposed 3% hotel bed tax would generate $3.5 million, according to the mayor.
Scanlon's chief rival in the upcoming mayoral primary, State Senator Sean Ryan, criticized the move by the state. In a written statement, Ryan said he has doubts the policies will change Buffalo's economic situation.
"The plan to sell parking ramps for a one-time infusion of cash is a short-sighted move that will not deliver the funds the acting mayor has insisted it will. Despite being asked repeatedly to support this plan, I still have not received any analysis that explains where the seemingly inflated estimated figures came from," says Ryan. On the bed tax, Ryan said it will damage the city's ability to attract conventions and the hotel business that those events come with.
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We have reached out to Mayor Scanlon's office for comment on the state including his proposals in its budget.
Speaker Heastie told reporters Monday that budget bills may be printed as soon as Tuesday.