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Buffalo Council Demands Transparency on Mayor's Budget Proposal
Council members voice concerns over tax hikes, deficit bonds, and lack of clear financial data
Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:36pm
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With two weeks until Mayor Sean Ryan's 2026-2027 city budget proposal is due, members of the Buffalo Common Council are growing increasingly frustrated over a lack of transparency and specific financial details. Council members criticized Ryan for releasing budget information to the media before sharing it with the Council, and expressed concerns over a proposed 25% property tax increase, the use of deficit bonds, and discrepancies in the projected budget deficit figures.
Why it matters
The budget negotiations between the Mayor and the Council will be critical in determining the city's financial path forward. Council members are pushing for more transparency and accurate data to ensure the budget adequately addresses the needs of Buffalo residents and businesses without placing an undue burden on taxpayers.
The details
Council members raised several key issues with Mayor Ryan's budget proposal, including: releasing information to the media before the Council, a proposed 25% property tax increase, plans to use deficit bonds to cover a budget shortfall, and conflicting figures on the projected deficit, which Ryan said could be as high as $109 million. The Council is calling for an independent audit by the state Comptroller to verify the budget numbers.
- The Buffalo Common Council is set to vote on the 2026-2027 city budget on May 26, 2026.
- Mayor Sean Ryan is expected to formally deliver his budget proposal to the Council in the next two weeks.
The players
Sean Ryan
The Mayor of Buffalo, who is proposing the 2026-2027 city budget.
Buffalo Common Council
The legislative body of the City of Buffalo, which must approve the mayor's budget proposal.
Rasheed N.C. Wyatt
The University District councilman who criticized the lack of transparency in the budget process.
Chris Scanlon
The South District councilman and former acting mayor who presented a plan last year to sell downtown parking ramps, which the current mayor has now rejected.
Crystal Peoples-Stokes
The New York State Assembly Majority Leader who said she does not support increasing the bonding capacity of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority.
What they’re saying
“We are not seeing a lot of transparency now.”
— Rasheed N.C. Wyatt, University District Councilman
“That is very misleading.”
— Chris Scanlon, South District Councilman
“We have to have actual numbers.”
— Mitch Nowakowski, Fillmore District Councilman
What’s next
The Buffalo Common Council has requested an independent audit of the city's budget numbers from the New York State Comptroller. The Council and Mayor Ryan are awaiting a response from the Comptroller's office before budget negotiations can proceed.
The takeaway
The budget process in Buffalo has become contentious, with the Council demanding more transparency and accurate financial data from the Mayor's office. This standoff highlights the importance of open communication and trust between the executive and legislative branches in managing a city's finances, especially during challenging economic times.
