BCC seeks to change key dates in city’s draft budget

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – When the Buffalo City Council approved the mayor’s municipal budget last May, just hours before the deadline, Council Speaker Chris Scanlon noted that it was one of the most difficult budgets the body had faced in his tenure.

City lawmakers are now looking to ensure they have enough time to consider the next one.

Council members Rasheed Wyatt and Leah Halton-Pope introduced a series of local laws Tuesday that would not only give the mayor and his office a new deadline to submit the budget, but also extend the approval deadline to improve budget procedures and financial planning under Section 20 of the city charter.

“The mayor submits his budget to us in accordance with the charter by May 1. We have to deliberate on it and get it back to him by May 22. That’s really not enough time, it’s never been enough time because we’re always in a hurry to review things and try to get it back,” said Wyatt, the city’s University District councilman.

Wyatt is asking the mayor to submit his budget by April 1, with the council’s deadline for budget additions extended to May 26.

The council is also asking Mayor Byron Brown’s office to inform the governing party of proposed changes to the city charter by March 1, such as increasing the tax rate.

“This year they came to us with a tax increase that we didn’t have time to think about. It was presented to us one day and approved the next, which is just unacceptable. We’re asking for this kind of thing to be presented to us (well in advance) so we can make better decisions about the budget, which we know is going to be very, very risky,” said Councillor Wyatt.

If approved by the Council and the Mayor’s Office as originally proposed, these proposals would create the following timeline for the city’s next budget.

– February 1st : Deadline for submission of budget estimates (new date)
– 1st of March: Budget Impact Statement/Proposed Changes to Charter Amendment (New Date)
– April 1: Presentation of the Mayor’s previous budget (change from May 1)
– May 26: Council Deadline for Budget Additions (change from May 22)

Council members Halton-Pope and Wyatt are also calling for a more detailed four-year proposal plan.

“I’m just appalled that we’re not getting any kind of financial analysis, you’re giving us numbers on a page and telling us you’re good with numbers,” said Wyatt, who has extensive experience and training in finance.

“Prove to me, through analysis, that these numbers are solid, as are the recommendations for hotel revenue. These are numbers that we have never seen before. I don’t know what the total number is that we got or that the county is getting. We don’t have any of that information, the only thing they tell us is that we feel comfortable. So, again, it’s very important to make sure that the numbers that we get, even through the format of your financial plan, are legitimate numbers that make sense.”

These proposals are now being examined by the legislative committee and should be put to a vote within two weeks.

Additionally, the Council adopted a resolution that will require a public hearing after the Mayor announces his budget plan and before the Council submits it for approval.