Shake up in Buffalo City Hall comes as finances are about to hit a brick wall

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "Do you think Mayor Byron Brown is getting out before a budget catastrophe?"

That's the question presented to Fillmore District Common Council member Mitch Nowakowski on Friday morning during an appearance with WBEN.

"To be honest, I do. I think we're going to hit a wall next year," Nowakowski answered.

Nowakowski was elected in 2020, and remembers being in a tough fiscal position then. However, American Rescue Plan funds helped the city fill its budget gaps.

Since then, revenues remained stagnant and expenses went up.

However, things are about to come home to roost. There are projections of a $40-to-$50 million budget deficit.

North District Councilman Joe Golombek says he and other Council members have great concern about city finances.

"We have a strong mayoral form of government," said Golombek with WBEN. "The mayor is responsible for the day-to-day finances. The mayor submits the budget to the Council, and then we can pick and take small bites. But it is ultimately the mayor who has to address these major issues. We're anticipating a $40-to-$50 million budget deficit over the next year. That's catastrophic, unless something drastically changes."

Nowakowski says Council President Chris Scanlon, who would become Acting Mayor, has his work cut out for him.

"Yes, he will have the power of incumbency, but we have a lot of work ahead of us. It's going to be turbulent," Nowakowski acknowledged.

Scanlon released the following statement on Western Regional OTB's selection of Mayor Brown as their new president and CEO:

"As Buffalo Common Council President, I am fully aware that the City Charter mandates that I assume all of the responsibilities and the role of acting mayor should a vacancy occur in the office due to the mayor’s ‘resignation, removal, death or permanent inability to discharge the powers and duties of the office.'

"I have spoken with Mayor Brown, who has informed me that he will consider the offer he received to be the next President of Western Region Off Track Betting. If he chooses to accept, I am prepared to lead and serve the residents of the City of Buffalo as their Mayor."

Scanlon would likely have to face a primary in order to hold his seat full-time. That would come when Mayor Brown's term is set to expire at the end of December 2025.

Word on the street in political circles is that State Sen. Sean Ryan may very well enter that primary. Former mayoral candidate India Walton may also run again.

Nowakowski told WBEN he's enjoying his second term on the Council, and a run for mayor is not in the cards for him just yet.