Comptroller Reaffirms Commitment to Protect City Finances After Court Ruling

Buffalo, NY — City Comptroller Barbara Miller Williams reaffirms her commitment to protecting the financial health of the City of Buffalo in the wake of the Erie County State Supreme Court decision, issued on September 24, 2025, directing her office to issue and sell bonds pursuant to the 2025 Capital Budget and Bond Resolutions adopted by the Buffalo Common Council on February 18, 2025.

While Comptroller Miller Williams continues to respect the Judicial Branch of government and acknowledges the directives outlined in the Court’s Memorandum Decision, she remains deeply concerned about how that decision will affect the City’s long term fiscal stability. Specifically, she has underscored the risks of borrowing beyond the debt cap identified in the Fiscal Year 2024–2025 Comptroller’s Estimate and Report, the dangerous precedent of ignoring the City’s established Capital Debt Management Policy in the appropriations of futures Capital Budgets, and the continued lack of urgency from both the Administrative and Legislative branches to address the City’s growing financial challenges.

“The Erie County Supreme Court has spoken, and I will act in accordance with the law, while continuing to explore all lawful avenues of Judicial Review available to my office,” Comptroller Miller Williams said. “My duty to the citizens and taxpayers of Buffalo remains unchanged— to ensure that every financial decision is made responsibly and with an eye toward the City’s long-term fiscal health. I will continue to evaluate every measure necessary to prevent future generations from bearing the burden of today’s fiscal choices.”

Since the Court’s ruling, Comptroller Miller Williams has reiterated her office’s dedication to transparency, accountability, and collaboration with the Administration, the Buffalo Common Council, Buffalo Public Schools, the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority, and the community at large. She remains steadfast in her mission to provide timely and accurate financial information and to advocate for policies that strengthen Buffalo’s financial position in the years ahead.