On “Tin Cup Day” at the state Capitol, New York mayors urged lawmakers to make permanent increases to Aid to Municipalities funding, which supports local services like law enforcement and infrastructure. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan emphasized the need for reliable funding frameworks, while Buffalo’s acting mayor, Christopher Scanlon, suggested indexing AIM to inflation.
Mayors also expressed concerns over federal funding uncertainties. Both Syracuse and Buffalo face multi-million-dollar deficits, with Scanlon planning a property tax hike to mitigate Buffalo’s shortfall. Albany’s unique funding needs due to untaxed state-owned properties could soon see a permanent solution.
With $400 million in development funding for Albany facing no major opposition, local leaders remain optimistic about future budget negotiations.
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