Buffalo Mayor Proposes 25% Tax Hike as Parking Ramp Sale Plan Scrapped
Buffalo, NY – March 26, 2026 – City leaders weigh a 25% tax hike and reverse a parking ramp sale as a $109M budget gap strains infrastructure plans.
Buffalo is heading into a pivotal stretch for its finances.
25% Property Tax Increase Proposed
Mayor Sean Ryan is proposing a 25% increase in city property taxes to help close a projected $109 million budget gap. City officials say the deficit reflects years of underinvestment in equipment, infrastructure and core services, combined with rising costs.
The administration has pointed to urgent needs including new garbage trucks, snow plows and police vehicles. Without new revenue or major spending cuts, leaders warn the city could struggle to maintain basic operations and long-delayed capital projects.
The Common Council is expected to debate the proposal in the coming weeks before adopting a final budget later this spring.
Parking Ramp Sale Plan Reversed
In a related move, Ryan is backing away from a previous proposal to sell off city-owned parking ramps. Supporters of keeping the ramps argue that selling the assets would generate short-term cash but leave taxpayers paying more over time through higher fees and lost revenue control.
The decision reshapes one of the larger one-time revenue strategies floated during earlier budget talks and underscores the administration’s shift toward recurring revenue solutions.
Infrastructure Pressures Mount
Budget tensions come as Buffalo faces mounting infrastructure needs, from road repairs to fleet modernization. Recent discussions have highlighted the condition of city equipment and the need to invest in long-term reliability.
With federal pandemic aid largely exhausted and costs climbing, city leaders are signaling that structural changes may be unavoidable. The next several weeks will likely define Buffalo’s fiscal direction for years to come.
