Buffalo City Council Considers Changing Budget Process Due Dates

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — After a chaotic end to budget season and a budget vote that dragged on late into the evening, some Buffalo City Council members want changes to the process.

RELATED: Buffalo City Council Votes to Reduce Property Tax Rate Increase to 4.19%, From Initial Proposal of 9%

On the table? Bring forward some key dates.

Ellicott City Councilmember Leah Halton-Pope and University District Councilmember Rasheed Wyatt are introducing four new laws for the upcoming budget season.

The goal is to address budgeting and financial planning during the budget process.

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“It gives us a little bit more time for discourse and discussion. It doesn’t change the rest of the schedule, in terms of when public hearings are, workshops, etc. But it does allow the city as a whole to have a discussion on the budget instead of the 22 days,” Halton-Pope said.

Council members are proposing changing the May 1 deadline for the mayor’s budget to April 1, which would allow council members to review the budget for nearly two months instead of three weeks.

“These are important dates because we have found that in the past we have not had enough time. In the future, because of the financial situation, we will need as much time as possible,” Wyatt said.

They also want all of the mayor’s proposed changes to the charter to be submitted by March 1.

“This time something was presented to us at the last meeting about an increase in the tax levy. That can’t happen, we need more time to be able to really assess the situation,” Mr Wyatt said.

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Halton-Pope and Wyatt also proposed receiving a more detailed four-year financial plan from the budget director. This plan will serve as a framework for understanding the town’s operating funds, cash reserves and revenue projections.

Council members also want the deadline for submitting the amended budget to be extended from May 22 to May 26.

“It’s not going to change our roles, but it’s going to give us more information, more time to process information and make better decisions,” Wyatt said.

“Extending that deadline a little bit gives me an opportunity to digest it a little bit more fully, and then maybe for negotiations, which gives us a little bit more time to have a conversation with the administration about this before the final 26th deadline,” Halton-Pope said.

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Fillmore District Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski supports the changes and said it allows council members to “flex their muscles” when making needed changes.

“The Common Council has authority over the budget and I don’t want the council to be passive when it comes to the budget, especially if they have more time to be passive, the council members need to come together,” Nowakowski said.

The budget deadline will remain June 8.

Council members will discuss these changes in the Legislation Committee before voting on proposed legislation for the upcoming budget season.