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Cheektowaga board split over tax-cap public hearing and preliminary budget timing; sponsor withdraws some items
Summary
Council members argued over whether to call public hearings on exceeding the state tax cap and on preliminary budget notices; a resolution to call a public hearing on exceeding the cap was defeated, and two related preliminary-budget resolutions were pulled for later consideration.
The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board on Wednesday sparred over the timing of budget notices and whether to schedule a public hearing on a proposal that could exceed New York27s property tax cap, reflecting a split among members about transparency, timing and political optics before the Nov. 4 election.
Supervisor Brian Nowak and other members said they preferred to leave options on the table while they and staff work on amendments; other members pressed to call hearings now so residents could weigh in before election day. Council member Dan Collender, speaking during public comment as a candidate for town council, urged that proposed cuts be released before early voting begins Oct. 25 so voters know what incumbents may approve.
On the floor, the board took up three linked resolutions: one to call a public hearing on exceeding the tax cap (Resolution 2025-669), and two to schedule hearings on the town27s preliminary budgets, including the ad valorem (tax) budget and benefit-basis assessments (Resolutions 2025-670 and 2025-671). After discussion about state deadlines and publication timing, the board voted down Resolution 2025-669 (call for public hearing on exceeding the tax cap) on a roll-call vote. The sponsor said he supported a public hearing in principle but recognized insufficient support that night and recommended reintroducing changes at a later meeting.
Supervisor Nowak and the town comptroller described the legal timeline under state law for publishing preliminary budgets and holding hearings. Town staff said that to meet statutory deadlines a special meeting or an October 28 action would likely be needed to allow a public hearing by Nov. 6 (the Thursday after election day) and final adoption by Nov. 20. Several board members recommended tabling or pulling the other two related resolutions and bringing them back with a final preliminary budget and clearer dates; 2025-670 and 671 were pulled from the agenda.
Council member Michael Jasinski said he opposed any step that would open the door to exceeding the tax cap, citing taxpayer concerns, while other members sought more flexible timing to preserve options for budget changes. The clerk and town attorney advised the board that a public hearing cannot be held until the preliminary budget is filed and that members must agree on a majority position to publish a preliminary budget.
Ending: The board left the matter unresolved for now: one proposed public hearing was defeated and two other budget resolutions were removed so members and staff can continue negotiations, prepare a revised preliminary budget and return to the board with dates and documentation for public notice.
