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4 • RIVERROCK T • Thursday, February 12, 2026 Mayor seeks state help to stabilize city finances,
Buffalo briefs prevent need for cuts to core services

Mayor Sean M. Ryan testified And, he said Buffalo has the of bonding through the Buffalo Fis-
Embckace çthe cteacton: Victiçt falo feel like home in the heart of Feb. 11 before the New York State lowest per-capita personnel spend- cal Stability Authority. This legisla-
Buffalo launchect ‘Made fock winter.” Legislature at the Joint Legislative ing of any upstate city, and more tion would allow the City to
Snowbuffct’ winçteck campaign The initiative includes a multi- Public Hearing on the 2026 Execu- than 70% of city spending goes to- amortize potential revenue short-
Visit Buffalo has launched a channel mix of digital advertising, tive Budget Proposal, where he laid ward fixed personnel costs and ben- falls while long-term revenue mea-
out the City of Buffalo’s efits. sures take effect.
new winter advertising campaign including social media placements,
fiscal condition and “My administra- “This [legislation] would not
that invites travelers to experience YouTube video ads, streaming pod-
called for a partnership tion is prioritizing create an obligation for Buffalo to
the region at its most distinctive and cast commercials and digital dis-
with the State to restore disciplined and effi- borrow,” Mayor Ryan said. “It
enjoy the fun and beauty of the sea- plays along with select national
son. editorial exposure. A complementa- long-term financial sta- cient spending, but would just be an option. It would
The “Made for Snowbuffs” pro- ry media relations push is now un- bility. this is not a problem have to be Council-approved.”
In his testimony, we can cut our way The mayor also proposed
motion is a new annual effort and derway to share Buffalo’s winter
Mayor Ryan described a out of,” Mayor Ryan amendments to legislation govern-
seasonal extension of Visit Buffa- story with regional and national
city operating under said. “Our services ing the Buffalo Parking and Mobili-
lo’s “That’s Buffalo For You” cam- travel journalists.
paign, developed in partnership with A paid editorial partnership what he called the have already been ty Authority to strengthen
weight of years of unre- cut to the bone – governance and oversight while the
destination marketing firm MMGY. with Outside Online, the digital ver-
alistic budgeting prac- there is not much left city evaluates the long-term fiscal
Part of a broader, multi-year strate- sion of Outside Magazine, included
tices and one-time to trim. But if we implications of parking ramp re-
gy to drive year-round visitation, the the travel story “Chase the Snow to
revenue solutions that have depleted don’t begin to close our budget structuring enacted in last year’s
campaign targets travelers who are Buffalo” about the city’s waterfront
city reserves and masked a growing gaps, the only option we would have State Budget.
motivated to explore snowy destina- ice skating, sledding hills and cold-
tions – those who actively seek out weather charm. structural deficit. He made clear that is to further reduce our police force, In addition, Mayor Ryan re-
winter experiences – and encourag- In keeping with the new “That’s Buffalo must both increase local fire department, and city workers. quested authorization for three tar-
es them to choose Buffalo while Buffalo For You” brand, the winter revenue and secure short-term state That’s not something we’re interest- geted revenue measures:
support to stabilize its finances. ed in doing.” • A supplemental tax on vacant
supporting local hotels, attractions campaign introduces a series of win-
“The City of Buffalo is saddled The mayor detailed the conse- and abandoned properties to reduce
and restaurants during the colder ter-specific, two-word descriptors
months. that capture Buffalo’s personality in with the consequences of about a quences of underinvestment, includ- blight and offset the public costs
“Winter is one of Buffalo’s the colder months: “Ruggedly Invit- generation of fiscal mismanage- ing aging water infrastructure, associated with neglected parcels.
ment,” Mayor Ryan said. “For under-resourced public works oper- • A restructuring of eligibility
greatest assets, and this campaign ing,” “Magically Real” and “Boldly
years, the city has relied on one-shot ations, and community centers in for the homestead property tax rate
invites visitors near and far to expe- Cozy” appear alongside images of
revenues and unrealistic budgets. serious disrepair. so that only owner-occupied one- or
rience it with new eyes,” said Pat- winter experiences, including the
Now, the bill has finally come due.” “All of these problems are solv- two-family homes qualify, aligning
rick Kaler, president and CEO of Ice at Canalside and sledding at
Mayor Ryan emphasized that able,” Mayor Ryan said. “We know the policy with its original intent of
Visit Buffalo. “From the warmth of Chestnut Ridge Park. Each ad closes
Buffalo’s fiscal challenges are not we can do better. But that starts with protecting homeowners rather than
our neighborhoods and cultural at- with the line, “Made for Snowbuffs.
the result of excessive spending, but honest budgeting of both revenues extending the lower rate to out-of-
tractions to the beauty of our snowy That’s Buffalo For You,” together
of constrained revenue growth over and expenditures, and honest and town investors.
landscapes, Buffalo delivers unfor- with a winter-themed version of the
many years. responsible planning.” • Authorization for a two-tiered
gettable moments all season long. Visit Buffalo logo.
This is about growing visitation dur- This is an investment to attract According to Ryan Buffalo has As part of his testimony, Mayor real estate transfer tax within the
ing a time of year with tremendous more visitors during the winter the lowest per-capita total tax levy Ryan requested inclusion of five City of Buffalo, paid by the seller.
potential — and celebrating the peo- months says Visit Buffalo, a season among upstate cities. Between 2007 Article VII proposals in the State Because the proposed revenue
and 2024, the city’s tax levy largely Budget to provide both short-term measures would not generate funds
ple, places and spirit that make Buf- with potential for Buffalo’s tourism
remained flat or declined. stability and long-term revenue so- until the 2027–2028 City fiscal
economy.
lutions. year, Mayor Ryan also requested
The most immediate direct temporary State assistance to
request is legislation au- stabilize Buffalo’s budget in the in-
Wishing you . . . thorizing a second round terim.
“We know we can't rely on state
support to fix everything that we do,
A Sweet Valentine’s Day so we'll be seeking property and tax
increases over the next three years,”
Mayor Ryan said. “But we also
don't want to overburden the people
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155 Lawn Ave. - 716-876-8108
431 Tonawanda St. Serving the community since 1975

871 Tonawanda Street 716-873-1491
Larry Gervasi, Owner