Buffalo Common Council overrides Mayor Brown's budget deadline veto

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Common Council has officially overridden Mayor Byron Brown's veto of four significant amendments to Article 20 of the City of Buffalo's Charter on Tuesday, which deal with streamlining the budget preparation and adoption process, enhancing financial oversight, and ensuring timely fiscal planning to better align with the City's operational and service delivery needs.

The Council's decision was made with a 7-2 vote during their session, paving the way for these amendments to become law. The only two Council members to vote against the veto override were Council President Chris Scanlon and North District Councilman Joseph Golombek.

The amendments, introduced by Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Leah M. Halton-Pope and University District Council Member Rasheed N.C. Wyatt, focus on refining the City’s budget estimation, submission, and adoption timelines, as well as establishing a comprehensive financial planning framework.

Key Provisions of the Amendments:

- Earlier Submission Deadlines: Budget estimates must now be submitted by Feb. 1, with the Mayor's budget due to the Council by April 8 —revised from the previous May 1 deadline.

- Council Review and Adoption: The Council’s deadline to amend the budget has been extended to May 26, with the final budget adoption required by June 8 each year.

- Four-Year Financial Plan: The amendments mandate the inclusion of a four-year financial plan to ensure sustainable fiscal practices and balanced budgets across all major operating funds.

In a letter from the Mayor sent to the Council on Friday, Aug. 30, Mayor Brown's veto was based on concerns that the new deadlines could complicate the City’s budget preparation process, particularly due to the unpredictability of the New York State budget.

However, the Council determined that the advantages of a more structured and proactive budgeting timeline outweigh these concerns.