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Buffalo finance committee reviews revised discretionary-fund policy; council members seek charter protections
Summary
The Finance Committee discussed a revised City of Buffalo discretionary-fund policy that sets limits on uses, requires documentation and bars capital purchases after July 1, 2025. Council members raised concerns the policy could infringe on council appropriation authority and asked for further consultation with corporation counsel.
The City of Buffalo Committee on Finance opened discussion July 29 on a revised discretionary-fund policy that budgets $1.8 million for neighborhood initiatives in fiscal 2026 and adds new documentation and spending restrictions.
Deputy Comptroller Dwayne O'Dell explained the policy’s major provisions, saying the city budgeted $1,800,000 in neighborhood-initiative funds, allocating $200,000 per council district and capping any single recipient at $50,000. He said recipients must submit a budget and expenditure report, invoices and proof of payment and other backup after completing a contracted activity, and that unencumbered discretionary funds will not roll over and instead return to the general fund.
The policy also specifies…
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