Ken Kruly

Years of experience in government and budgeting usually produce a healthy cynicism about big numbers. That’s a lesson I admit I overlooked when the City...

With the 2023 primary elections concluded candidates for seven of the eleven offices on the ballot in the City of Buffalo this year have effectively been elected.  Minor party challenges to four Democratic Council primary winners are all that remain for election 2023. The five Democratic primary elections for Council seats saw three incumbents victorious … Continue reading Buffalo fall elections down to four minor party challenges; the 10th legislative district leaning toward Lorigo

Candidates running in party primary elections next week were required to file their last pre-primary campaign financial reports with the state Board of Elections on June 16.  The primary election will be held on June 27. I’ll get to the Buffalo Common Council candidates’ filed reports below, but first some reporting and observations about what … Continue reading Final pre-primary campaign financials; how much is that legislative seat really worth?

Mayor Byron Brown’s proposed 2023-2024 City Budget demonstrates a new reality:  Buffalo must deal with financial issues head-on.  Past budgets have relied on if-come revenues from new city sources, exaggerated estimates of established funding streams, and new money from other levels of government to cover the city’s expenses.  With a proposed increase in property taxes … Continue reading Brown’s proposed Buffalo budget deals with reality; OTB is about to

Primary Day in Buffalo and Erie County offers some interesting contests.  The Common Council primaries might produce a shift in control of that legislative body.  The County Legislature primaries are in just one district; they are simply a power struggle between the Republicans and Conservatives. Subject to Board of Elections or court actions, there could … Continue reading Campaign financials for the Buffalo Council and Erie County Legislature; Comptroller’s audit of the Williamsville Central School District

It is nicer to think of the expression “April showers bring May flowers,” but like it or not there are a bunch of primaries sprouting up all over Erie County. In the midst of serious and protracted budget negotiations among Governor Kathy Hochul, the Assembly, and the Senate those parties found time to add an … Continue reading April petitions bring June primaries