BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo mayoral candidate Sean Ryan, speaking at a news conference on Friday, said a state audit would be conducted of the city should he be elected as mayor later this year. He said that the audit would be conducted by the New York State Comptroller's office in order to address exactly how much the city's eight-figure budget deficit is. He will also ask the fiscal stability board to issue a report on available funds as well as anticipated expenses. "I'll evaluate the money that's being left on the table for important capital projects by the City of Buffalo because each and every year the city fails to apply for available state money," Ryan said Friday. "We leave way too much money on the table. That needs to end." In May 2024, the Buffalo Common Council approved a $618 million city budget. In July, it adopted a resolution to address a $40 million budget shortfall. Finally, in December, the council approved Buffalo Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon's $110 million capital budget, the largest capital investment in the city's history. Ryan said that as mayor, he would work with other government agencies, including Erie County, to improve efficiency in city government and end wasteful spending, which he said would increase revenue. That would include a top-to-bottom evaluation of each of the city's departments and cut "every ounce of waste for programs that don't work" for the city. "We need to get rid of duplicative services, we need to crack down on cronyism and nepotism and ensure that there's more oversight on all state and federal funds we use," he said. It would also include listening to those involved in the programs to figure out the best ways of carrying out certain tasks, including the Department of Works when it comes to snowplowing. "If you sit down with snow plow drivers, they'll tell you exactly how we can plow our streets more efficiently. They'll tell you what equipment they need to get the job done faster," Ryan said. "You sit down with the City of Buffalo fire department, they'll tell you what they need to get their work done." Working with BPS, new superintendent Ryan said that he would work with the next Buffalo Public Schools superintendent to improve schools across the city. BPS will have a new superintendent beginning this summer after the impending retirement of Dr. Tonja Williams-Knight in June after just under three years on the job. The BPS superintendent has been something of a revolving door over the years. The new superintendent, which BPS said last month it is hoping to announce this month, will be the district's 10th in 21 years. Many have served for a year or less. "For far too long the City of Buffalo has ignored its school system. It pretends it has nothing to do with them. Its funding for the schools has remained flat for almost 20 years. Every year the state puts in more money and the city doesn't put in any more money," Ryan said. "They don't take any responsibility." Buffalo's mayor cannot implement policy in the school district, but they do have the ability to influence it. He also wants to continue development of the "community schools" model that was implemented in 2016. "It's a big district. There's a lot of people who work really hard in the district," Ryan said. "We need to continue to promote the community schools model that the state allowed a few years ago. That's really helped, it brings services into the schools, it brings parents into the schools. It's a real 360." You can view Ryan's full news conference in the media player above. Latest Local News Death in Jamestown originally determined to be overdose ruled a homicide Lackawanna man admits to distributing child pornography Learning about Irish Wolfhounds, an ancient dog breed Mayoral candidate Ryan: State audit of city would be conducted Former BPS music teacher pleads guilty for attempting to meet teen Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. ...read more read less