BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan has released his proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget, which includes a 25 percent property tax levy increase.
PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026-2027 BUDGET
The proposed budget begins with a statement from Mayor Ryan, which says in part: "The budget before you represents a necessary shift for the City of Buffalo—one that puts us on a path to fiscal stability and reliable services for the first time in a generation."
The statement continues, "In recent years, Buffalo has relied on a pattern of budgeting that masked underlying problems instead of solving them. The City has overestimated revenues and underestimated expenses, passing budgets that appeared balanced but ultimately required one-time resources to close gaps at the end of the fiscal year. Federal relief funds, reserves, and other temporary measures were used to paper over a growing structural imbalance rather than address it. That approach has caught up with us."
According to the mayor, the proposed budget includes approximately $681 million in total general fund expenditures, an increase from the $622 million 2025-2026 adopted budget. However, Ryan said the city actually spent $667 million under the 2025-2026 budget, so his first budget is a 2% increase from last year.
Mayor Ryan has previously said, and echoed in his proposed budget, that the city must plug a $109 million budget deficit in the coming fiscal year. The mayor said that through more aggressive collections, in-rem foreclosure proceeds, anticipated state support, and other adjustments it is anticipated that the gap can be reduced to about $45 million.
To help close the $45 million gap, the mayor has proposed a 25 percent property tax levy increase.
"I do not make that proposal lightly," the mayor said in his statement. "I understand that any tax increase raises real concerns for families, particularly at a time when many are already feeling financial pressure. But it is important to be clear about the alternative. Without this step, we would be forced to make tens of millions of dollars in additional cuts to a City that is already operating at a bare minimum. That would mean fewer services, slower response times, and further deterioration of the infrastructure our residents depend on every day."
According to the mayor, the increase will amount to less than $25 per month for two-thirds of Buffalo homeowners and less than $15 per month for about one in five homeowners.
Ryan said many residents don't take advantage of exemptions that would reduce the property tax burden, such as the STAR program, and the city will do what it can to educate residents about the value of the exemptions and how to sign up for them.
The mayor also claimed that residents will still have one of the lowest property tax burdens in the region. According to Ryan, with the proposed homestead tax rate of approximately $8.01 per $1,000 of assessed value, homeowners will pay less than half of what most neighboring municipalities charge.
The city has launched a property tax calculator on its website to help residents better understand the impact of the proposed tax increase. You can find it online here.
In addition, you can find the full proposed budget online here.
Mayor Ryan will host a public town hall on April 21 to break down the proposed budget. The town hall will take place in the auditorium at the Central Library in Downtown Buffalo and will begin at 5:30 p.m. You're encouraged to register online here to save time at the sign-in table.
MAYOR RYAN'S FOUR-YEAR FINANCIAL PLAN
As part of unveiling his proposed budget, Mayor Ryan also released a four-year financial plan.
"The plan continues the Administration’s promise to use actual numbers for revenues and expenses, avoid relying on one-time revenue sources, and begin replenishing the City’s reserves," Ryan said in a statement. "Many unknowns will affect the City’s finances in the coming years. While this plan makes assumptions in certain areas, the Administration has striven to utilize conservative numbers wherever possible."
As part of the four-year plan, in addition to the 25 percent property tax levy increase in Year 1, there will be a nine percent property tax levy increase in Year 2 and a five percent property tax levy increase in Year 3 and Year 4.
The plan also includes a 25 percent increase in the user fee in the 2027-2028 fiscal year to ensure the city's garbage and recycling system is self-funded. There are plans to increase the user fee "modestly" each year after that to keep pace with inflation, according to the mayor's budget summary.
You can find the full four-year financial plan online here.
WATCH: Mayor Ryan unveils proposed $681M Buffalo budget, includes 25 percent property tax levy increase
OTHER REVENUE STREAMS
As well as gap-closing measures such as plans to borrow money through the city's control board and a $30 million handout from New York State, the city plans to increase collections of fines and fees.
Parking enforcement is set to be a money-maker for the city, with plans to double the number of parking enforcement officers in the next year. The city will also pursue outstanding traffic violation fines, with Ryan revealing on Wednesday that the city currently lacks the computer software to suspend registrations for unpaid parking tickets through the DMV. His budget carves out cash to change that.
"That's just one way that we're going to get money coming in from the fines that were already issued," Ryan said.
"THE BASICS"
In return for paying more taxes, Ryan said residents can expect improved city services, or as he calls them, "the basics." The city plans to restore approximately 600 downed or broken streetlight poles city-wide, and ensure they are equipped with LED lightbulbs.
Deputy Mayor Benjamin Swanekamp said all city streetlights can be converted to LED for approximately $1.6 million.
"That pays for itself instantly with energy savings," Swanekamp said.
The city also plans to ensure traffic signals can be replaced quickly by purchasing replacement parts ahead of time, rather than the current system of ordering parts once traffic signals go down, resulting in weeks-long delays to signal repair.
The Ryan administration also plans to hire more mechanics to ensure the city has enough working snow plows and garbage trucks.
POLICE AND FIRE
There are no plans to significantly increase the number of sworn officers in the Buffalo Police Department, and the same goes for the Fire Department. Overall the city plans to keep the public safety staffing levels at the standard amounts: 812 police employees (including sworn officers and top brass) and 667 firefighters.
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS REACT
Residents and business owners on Buffalo's East Side are expressing concern over the mayor's proposed 25% property tax hike.
Many are worried about how this will affect their bottom line, especially those struggling to pay for gas and groceries.
"Shocked and appalled," Athenia Cyrus, a Buffalo resident, said.
"The 25% that's a little steep," Larry Stitts said.
The mayor is suggesting a tiered system for the new increase. Homes valued under $150,000 would see smaller increases.
I met with Larry Stitts, the owner of Golden Cup Coffee Company, on Jefferson Avenue.
"I think it would hurt a lot of the small businesses as well as homeowners who can't afford that big of an increase," Stitts said. "The only thing I could wish for is that the people in power work together and make it affordable for the residents of Buffalo."
"My concern is, like the fixed-income residents, right? Who will definitely take a hit, and how will we supplement those people? And so it's a class thing in Buffalo, like we have some impoverished neighborhoods that need help," Cyrus said.
Residents are counting on Buffalo lawmakers to fight the tax hike and try to create other solutions that will be best for everyone in the city.
WATCH: Residents and business owners react to 25 percent property tax increase in Buffalo