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Cheektowaga board approves preliminary budget modifications 5-2; rejects separate tax-cap resolution
Summary
The Town Board approved modifications to the 2026 preliminary budget by roll call vote (5-2) while voting down a separate resolution to hold a public hearing to exceed the New York State tax levy limit (2 yes, 5 no). The meeting included extended debate on mortgage-tax forecasting, proposed cuts, and the fiscal implications for reserves.
The Town of Cheektowaga Town Board approved Resolution 20 25-7-49 to modify the 2026 preliminary budget by roll call vote on Oct. 28, 2025. The recorded roll call on the budget modification showed five "yes" votes and two "no" votes: Council members Barbara Bukowski (yes), Diane Benczkowski (yes), Anthony Filipski (yes), Michael Jasinski (yes), Vernon Thompson (yes), Council member Brian Pularski (no), and Supervisor Nowak (no). The resolution passed 5-2.
Earlier in the meeting the board considered Resolution 20 25-7-21, a proposed local law (Intro No. 5 of 2025) to allow the town to adopt a levy in excess of the limit established in New York State General Municipal Law. The clerk recorded a roll call in which Supervisor Nowak and Council member Pularski voted "yes" and five council members voted "no," and the resolution failed (2 yes, 5 no). Supervisor Nowak and other members discussed changes in mortgage-tax remittances from Erie County and cautioned against relying on inflated mortgage-tax projections when planning the 2026 budget. Nowak said the county's actions made prior-year mortgage-tax receipts an unreliable guide and urged conservatism in revenue forecasting.
The board also passed a nonbinding resolution opposing a 16% winter-rate increase proposed by National Fuel and urging support for federally funded HEAP (Resolution 20 25-7-36); that resolution carried by voice vote. Other late agenda items were considered under a rules waiver: the board tabled the occupancy-tax local law (7-46), approved an MOU for a highway department tree-trimmer position (7-47), and approved a $3,253 replacement of an RTU fan assembly at the Anna Reinstein Memorial Library (7-48).
Supervisor Nowak reminded residents that the preliminary-budget public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6 at 6 p.m., and he cautioned that mortgage-tax receipts should be viewed conservatively because Erie County is withholding a portion of those remittances this year.
