BUFFALO, N.Y. — "The state of the city is strong," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in front of hundreds of city employees, commissioners, supporters, and councilmembers Wednesday afternoon.
In his 18th State of the City address, Brown said this is no time to be cutting services.
Mayor Brown's 2024-2025 budget calls for a 7.1% spending increase.
But the proposed budget also calls for a 9% property tax levy increase that's coupled with a $30 user fee increase for homeowners and $40 user fee increase for businesses.
Much to the chagrin of some members of the Buffalo Common Council, news of the 9% tax hike was delivered to the council by the administration at the last minute.
"Council in the past has put the Administration on notice — you can't give us something at the 11th hour and then seek immediate passage and we're gonna go along with it," Niagara District councilman David Rivera said Tuesday. "It's irresponsible on our part."
For homes assessed at $100,000 in the city of Buffalo, the 9% tax increase equates to an additional $78 annually on a homeowners tax bill.
For commercial properties assessed at $200,000, the annual increase would be $464.
Mayor Brown says the increase is necessary because the state aid and incentives for municipalities formula changed.
"They imposed a cap on the AIM increase that they provided this year, if there had been no cap, we would have gotten $6.2 million more than we actually received," Brown said.
North District councilmember Joseph Golombek says he's cautiously optimistic about the budget plan.
"[The] devil will be in the details of the budget book," Golombek said after the state of the city address. " When I get back to city hall I'm going to start looking at that.
University District councilman Rasheed N.C. Wyatt is not as optimistic, and wants the council to make some hard decisions.
"We have to tighten our belt, we have to start looking at cuts, we have to start being responsible, and how we produce a budget and not just say 'let's increase taxes and fees'.
Mayor Brown also announced that the city will be providing $500,000 to Shea's Performing Arts Center.
In addition to Shea's receiving funding, the city is setting aside $1,000,000 for the 5/14 memorial.
"In the next few weeks to 5/14 Memorial commission, established by Governor Hochul and I will announce the results of the request for proposals," Brown said.
The city is also hoping to address the development of the 7,000 vacant lots it owns.
"Our new vacant lot reuse strategy will transform city owned lots into usable areas that benefit the entire community," Brown said.
Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the office strategic planning, says the city will be rolling out a comprehensive plan for developing the vacant lots. The city is setting aside $10M from the American Rescue Plan for the project, and Erie County is contributing $13.5M.
"We've identified an opportunity for almost half a billion dollars worth of investment in in housing for singles, doubles, triples, and four units," Mehaffy said.
According to Mayor Brown's address, there is an additional 9,000 vacant lots that are privately owned in the city.
The Common Council has several budget hearings planned and are expected to vote on the budget by May 22.
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