Byron Brown’s contract revealed at first Western Regional OTB meeting

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Former Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s new contract was revealed Wednesday at his first meeting as Western Regional Off-Track Betting’s president and CEO.

It comes a week after he resigned from leading the Queen City for over 18 years.

Brown shook hands, found his seat and addressed reporters before the board adjourned to executive session. He shared with the room that he would release his employment contract to the public today. As the board went into private talks about hotel expansions, the long-awaited packet was handed out.

Brown is being paid a base salary of $295,000. According to the contract, the board can decide to increase his salary based on growth and performance. In 2026, he’s eligible to start earning a salary of $305,000, then in 2027, it can raise to $315,000. Brown is also receiving an $800 monthly car allowance.

If Brown resigns for good reason or is terminated without cause, he’ll receive up to four months of base salary.

WIVB News 4 asked Brown about criticisms WROTB has faced regarding severance deals seen as golden parachutes and what any future severance deal for himself would look like.

“We decided that I would not take that type of severance provision. My severance is four months, it’s not the year severance that other employees have had in the past,” he said. “Again, we thought that that was an important and meaningful reform with me coming in.”

Steve Casey, the former Buffalo deputy mayor and Brown’s right hand man at city hall from 2006 to 2014, was previously working part-time at OTB. According to the State Comptroller’s Office, Casey was listed as an OTB employee starting last month at a projected annual salary of nearly $50,000.

The former mayor said that Casey was working in marketing and said he had no influence over Casey’s hiring.

Casey founded LSA Strategies in 2012, the political consulting firm that admitted to wire fraud in 2021, according to the United States District Attorney’s Office.

“When you look at Steve Casey’s actual record, he has no record, so there is no prohibition to him being able to work here as I understand it,” Brown said. “He was hired prior to me being hired and he has a gaming license which I understand he got prior to me getting one.”

On Thursday, the OTB board approved a new position for Casey and for Brown’s former advisor Mike DeGeorge. Casey will be chief administrative officer and will earn $190,000, according to officials. DeGeorge will serve as the communications director and earn $130,000 a year.

Brown said he is also considering bringing his executive assistant Bernadette Taylor on board.

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Patrick Ryan is an award-winning reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2020. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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