Judge rules Buffalo comptroller must acquire bonds to improve city
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A judge ruled on Wednesday that Buffalo City Comptroller Barbara Miller-Williams must acquire bonds to improve the city after she was sued by Acting Mayor Scanlon earlier this month.
Scanlon originally called on Miller-Williams to acquire the bonds in August, saying that no shovels have hit the ground toward an infrastructure plan despite a Common Council ruling in December.
The ruling established the capital budget and granted money for Buffalo Public Schools, Main Street, Bailey Avenue and more.
Miller-Williams has repeatedly stressed the importance of a $28 million debt cap that she previously recommended, saying "fiscal responsibility is not optional."
The judge stated that her failure to do what was instructed by the council and acting mayor was an abandonment of her duties according to the charter. Now, she is being order to bond out for the $110 million infrastructure plan.
"It was reaffirmed in a court case that you cannot interfere with the budgetary process of the Buffalo Common Council once it votes and disposes of a budget," said Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski, who sued Miller-Williams with Scanlon.
Scanlon said going the legal route was not something he "wanted to do" but delays in projects and increasing costs made it necessary.
"All along I felt very confident that we would prevail in this court battle," Scanlon said during a press conference Wednesday. "Like I said, this was a long process and it was an historic process."
Scanlon said $82 million of the $110 million plan will be reimbursed and that although this construction season has passed, the infrastructure projects will still need to be completed.
We reached out to the City Comptroller's Office who issued a statement in return, saying they received the ruling Wednesday and don't have a comment at this time, but they'll reach out once they've reviewed the document.
Watch Scanlon's full press conference from Wednesday in the video player above.
Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.