Home > Leadership > Mayor > Archive Press Releases > 2006 Archives > May 2006 > MAYOR BROWN RELEASES 2006-07 CITY BUDGET

MAYOR BROWN RELEASES 2006-07 CITY BUDGET

Source/Contact
Office of the Mayor
Peter K. Cutler
Director of Communications
716-851-4841

(View Charts Below for More Information)

Mayor's First Budget Reduces Property Taxes, Holds Line on Fees, Invests in Schools, Economic Development and Public Safety

BUFFALO – Mayor Byron W. Brown today delivered his recommended 2006-07 budget for the City of Buffalo. In addition, the Mayor today delivered the city's Four-Year Financial Plan to the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority.

"I am pleased today to present the City of Buffalo's 2006-07 budget, which reflects the city's continuing effort to re-engineer and improve the efficiency of delivering city services, support private investment and stabilize Buffalo's fiscal standing," said Mayor Brown. "I have also submitted today to the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority the city of Buffalo's four-year Financial plan, which projects new private sector capital investments that will increase the property value of our city and help stabilize tax rates, while providing increased revenue to the city to balance its budget and make necessary investments in the city's future."

Mayor Brown's 2006-07 budget and Four-Year Financial Plan include:

• No increase in the real property tax for the upcoming year.
• No anticipated real property tax increases in future years.
• Modest tax reduction in 2006-07 for most property owners.
• No increase in Garbage User fee for 2006-07.
• No reliance on deficit financing to balance the budget.
• $500,000 to support important overtime investigative activities in the Police Department's major crime unit.
• $250,000 for a Middle Income Housing initiative targeting fire fighters, police officers and public school teachers interested in purchasing homes in Buffalo.
• $700,000 for consultant hired through Department of Human Resources to develop program to reduce Injured on Duty rates in Fire and Police Departments.
• Increased state aid in 2006-07 and anticipated increased state aid for the future.
• Reflects $5.9 million increase from increased sharing of county sales tax for 2006-07 and is expected to continue in future years.
• New economic growth in city will increase property value of the city.
• 2006-07 budget makes strategic investments in our most important priorities: economic development, public safety, the Buffalo Public Schools and programs for youth.

The 2006-07 budget increases aid to the city's public schools for the first time in three years, does not resort to deficit financing for the second consecutive year and includes state funding that increased by 22 percent over 2005-06.

The spending plan -- $412.418 million – reflects significant increases in fixed costs – utilities, healthcare and gasoline, all of which have grown against the prior fiscal year.

"Our strategic quality of life investments include: allocations to allow for expanded police overtime to enhance major crime investigations and the operation of a new Narcotics/Homicide tip line," said Mayor Brown. "We have also made provisions to cover the debt service in the Buffalo Public Schools, thereby making more money available for classrooms, which will support and enhance the Superintendent's and Board of Education's ongoing initiatives to raise academic achievement for all city children. In addition, a recommended allocation to the city's Department of Community Services will enhance after-school programming for the Buffalo Public Schools and summer youth programs, providing our children with activities and opportunities that will complement their daily educational experiences."

The 2006-07 budget represents the future opportunity for Buffalo to manage itself with continued fiscal discipline and focused spending on initiatives that will improve our quality of life and help attract investment and increased economic development. As we are able to further strengthen our city's fiscal circumstance, generate revenue, receive increased state aid and balance our budget without borrowing, the Brown Administration will do everything it can to remove the Control Board-imposed wage freeze. That act, more than anything else, will help underscore the City of Buffalo's true economic recovery.

"Working collaboratively and cooperatively with the our public sector colleagues, notably the Buffalo Common Council, the Erie County Legislature and the New York State Legislature, as well as the members of our federal legislative delegation, the City of Buffalo has taken important strides since January 1, 2006 to streamline city services through the development of the new CitiStat program, reorganize our city governmental structure (notably the creation of the new Department of Economic Development, Permits and Inspection Services), access greater revenue for the city through a fairer sharing of the sales tax and aggressively pursue fiscal opportunities in both Albany and Washington" stated Mayor Brown.

The Mayor's recommended budget sends a clear signal of Buffalo's ability to balance expenses with increased revenue, while holding property owners - both residential and commercial - harmless by not increasing the Property Tax Levy, the Garbage User Fee and Rental Registration Fee.

"Our Administration's goals of expanded economic development, improved quality of life and greater city government accountability and efficiency are clear; our determination to make Buffalo stronger, safer and fiscally stable is unwavering; and our dedication to pursue partnerships and collaborations with neighboring municipalities to seek opportunities to reduce costs and improve government service remains a priority of the Brown Administration," said Mayor Brown. "The 2006-07 budget, along with the four-year Financial Plan, will form the foundation for successfully pursuing these worthy objectives for a stronger and more vibrant Buffalo."