BUFFALO, N.Y. — Mayor Sean Ryan has delivered his first city budget to the Common Council that includes increased spending, increased revenues and increased taxes.

The 423-page budget outlines a $681M budget for 2026-2027. It includes a 25.8% property tax levy increase.
In his budget, Mayor Ryan also projects a structural deficit of $109M.

“After years of imbalanced budgeting, our recurring expenses significantly outpace our recurring revenues, leaving a $109 million structural budget gap that must be closed in the coming fiscal year,” Mayor Ryan said in his budget summary.

“Closing a $109 million gap requires a comprehensive approach,” Mayor Ryan continued. “Through more aggressive collections, in-rem foreclosure proceeds, anticipated state support, and other adjustments, we project reducing that gap to approximately $45 million before any change to the property tax levy.”

Mayor Ryan is proposing a homestead tax rate of $8.01 per $1,000 of assessed value to a property. The non-homestead (commercial) rate being proposed is $15.17 per $1,000.

Compared to a real property tax levy of $179.4M in 2025-2026, Mayor Ryan is proposing a $225.6M levy in his 2026-2027 budget.

A 25.8% increase.

“It is also important to understand what this proposal means for homeowners in practical terms,” Mayor Ryan said in the proposal. “Property taxes are based on assessed value, so the impact will not be the same for every household.”

“For nearly two-thirds of Buffalo homeowners, the increase will amount to less than $25 per month,” Mayor Ryan continued. “About one in five homeowners will see an increase of less than $15 per month.”
Mayor Ryan points out in his budget proposal that nearly 60% of city residents aren’t enrolled in the NYS STAR program and other exemptions for seniors, veterans, and low-income households.

The Mayor says that the city will begin targeted outreach to these groups to encourage enrollment into some of the programs that are available.
“Buffalo residents will continue to have one of the lowest property tax burdens in the region,” Mayor Ryan said. “Homeowners will still pay less than half of what most neighboring municipalities charge.”

Mayor Ryan’s budget also projects nearly double the revenue will be collected in fines and penalties.
In 2026-2027, Mayor Ryan aims to collect $20.5M from traffic violations, parking fines, bus arm violations, and other penalties, compared to $10.6M budgeted in the 2025-2026 budget.

Despite previously saying he didn’t want to sell the city-owned parking ramps to the newly established Buffalo Parking and Mobility Authority, the Mayor is anticipating $15.15M in revenue from the sale.

The current FY2025-2026 budget projected $26M in revenue from a ramp sale, however that has not yet gone through.

In terms of specific departments, several offices in City Hall will see substantial budget increases, while other offices will be gutted altogether.

The Buffalo Police Department is would see a 13% increase if Mayor Ryan’s budget is adopted. FY25-26 had a projected budget of $106.2M and Mayor Ryan is proposing $120M.

Mayor Ryan’s office itself is seeing significant increases in spending. The Mayor’s budget plans for $1M in new salary spending, $140K in special event spending and new contractor spending that will surpass $100K.
The divisions of buildings and engineering have a combined $9.9M in proposed budget increases next year as well.
There are some cuts, however.

Mayor Ryan is gutting the Division of Telecom/Utilities/Franchises completely, saving taxpayers $575,000, much of that work has been woven into the Mayor’s office.

Community Services will see a $248K decrease, while the Comptroller’s office will see budget cuts that will surpass $280K.
The Buffalo Common Council will hold a special meeting on Wednesday afternoon to formally accept the budget.
As for how the public can get involved in the budget process, the Common Council will hold a public hearing will be held on Thursday April 23, however a time has not yet been announced.

DEPARTMENT BUDGET COMPARISON: FY 2025-2026 vs. FY 2026-2027
Police – (2025-2026 $106.2M | (2026-2027) $120.0M |+$13.8M |+13.0%
Fire- (2025-2026) $72.7M | (2026-2027) $78.2M |+$5.4M | +7.5%
Fringe Benefits (citywide) | (2025-2026) $201.0M | (2026-2027) $223.4M | +$22.4M | +11.1%
Division of Buildings | (2025-2026) $9.9M | (2026-2027) $17.4M | +$7.5M | +75.7%
Management Information Systems | (25-26) $6.9M | (26-27) $8.5M | +$1.6M | +23.2%
Mayor & Executive | (25-26) $8.2M (26-27) $10.1M+ | $1.9M | +23.0%
Public Works & Streets (General) | (25-26) $1.1M (26-27) $1.3M+ | +$206K | +18.4%
Division of Engineering | (25-26) $7.2M | (26-27) $9.6M | +$2.4M | +33.1%
Street Sanitation | (25-26) $10.9M | (26-27) $18.3M | +$7.4M | +67.9%
Parking Enforcement | (25-26) $3.6M | (26-27) $4.8M | +$1.1M | +31.6%
Law Department | (25-26) $5.3M | (26-27) $5.9M | +$560K | +10.5%
Human Resources | (25-26) $5.6M | (26-27) $5.9M |+$287K | +5.1%
Human Svcs / Parks & Rec (Recreation) | (25-26). $4.0M | (26-27) $4.4M | +$358K | +9.0%
Permits & Inspection Services | (250-26) $7.1M (26-27) $7.5M | +$472K | +6.7%
Assessment & Taxation | (25-26) $3.0M | (26-27) $3.3M |+$221K | +7.3%
Community Services | (25-26) $5.0M | (26-27) $4.8M | -$248K | -4.9%
Parks (Parks/Golf/Gardens) | (25-26) $2.7M | (26-27)$2.8M | +$96K |+3.6%
Bureau of Forestry | (25-26) $924K | (26-27) $1.1M | +$155K |+16.8%
City Clerk | (25-26) $4.2M | (26-27) $4.3M | +$47K |+1.1%
Common Council | (25-26) $3.6M | (26-27) $3.9M | +$226K |+6.2%
Admin & Finance / Treasury | (25-26) $1.0M | (26-27) $962K | -$42K |-4.2%
Audit & Control (Comptroller) | (25-26) $4.3M | (26-27) $4.0M |-$281K | -6.5%
Telecom/Utilities/Franchises | (25-26) $570K (26-27) $0 | -$570K | -100%
Animal Shelter | (25-26) $1.4M | (26-27) $1.3M | -$60K | -4.3%
Interfund Transfers Out | (25-26) $107.5M | (26-27) $100.8M | -$6.7M |-6.2%