Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan joined WBEN's Susan Rose and Brian Mazurowski Thursday morning to discuss his $681 Million proposed budget, calling it a difficult one to make.
"This is a budget that I'm barely comfortable with," Ryan told WBEN. "But this is the hand that I have been dealt."
The hesitation doesn't just come from the 25.8% property tax levy increase, but also from the other ways the Mayor is looking to close what he projects to be a budget gap of $109 Million.
Ryan's budget also relies on the sale of city-owned parking ramps and a foreclosure auction to raise revenue, both which would be new for the city. He also includes gaming compact revenue, a source that is currently being disputed.
"This year we got $10.5 Million from the Seneca proceeds," Ryan said. "Even though there's not a compact, the state is still collecting that money and the Senecas are still sending that money. That is a questionable source... In ordinary years I wouldn't have included that in my budget, but if you don't include that it means you're raising more money from property taxes."
Ryan said the budget hole is one that needs to be filled in the next fiscal year. You can hear more from the Mayor's WBEN appearance HERE:
Ryan joins WBEN to talk proposed 25.8% tax increase
Ryan joins WBEN to talk proposed 25.8% tax increase
