Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Tax, Water Rate Hikes in the Crosshairs as Common Councilors Start Review of Walsh Budget

John Smith/WAER News

It looks like Syracuse Common Councilors are ready to put up some opposition to  parts of Mayor Ben Walsh’s budget proposal.  On Tuesday, they got a first crack at hearings and possible changes to the budget, which includes raises to both the basic property tax rate and water charges. 

Council finance chair Tim Rudd says residents are already paying more every year because the assessed value of properties go up.

“Will this tax increase make it so fewer houses have plywood over their windows?  I don’t think it will.  I think it might make it so there’s more.  That doesn’t work.  So, we have complicated problems and there’s no easy solutions.  But raising taxes needs be seriously thought about.”

Rudd supports some of the mayor’s priorities such as more street repair, but not if residents have to pay more.

“We don’t need to raise the (tax) rate.  Do we need to raise taxes to have $500,000 to get one crew to go around and fill potholes?  We need to that already.”

Council President Helen Hudson also believes the city isn’t ready to increase the burden on tax payers when there are numerous tax-exempt properties.

Credit syrgov.net
Highlights from Mayor Walsh's budget proposal

“We’re very constrained when it comes to how we can take care and deliver services.  We haven’t had a tax increase since 2011 and we have to look at the way we’re charging and dealing with the bigger institutions.”

Hudson wants those hospitals, colleges and other non-profits that don’t pay property taxes to take on some of the costs of city services. She supports some of the Mayor’s other priorities, such as expanding the use of police body cameras.

“Whatever we can get in grant money, I’m all for it.  And I particularly think that there are a lot of cases of excessive force and different things happening.  I think it protects both parties because we get a clear cut view of what actually transpired.”

Budget review for councilors started Tuesday.  There is a public hearing on the budget April 30th.

PRIORITIES IN MAYOR WALSH’S BUDGET PROPOSAL

In addition to fiscal prudence, the 2020 budget includes funding to address the major challenges facing city government:

  • Additional street repair crew in Department of Public Works and additional funds to reconstruct or resurface more roads including “Dig Once” projects on Butternut Street and North Beech Street
  • Additional funding for the Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agriculture Program to address Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs)
  • New class of police officers to improve patrol presence
  • New class of firefighters to offset recent and impending retirements
  • Full rollout of police body camera program (assisted by grants and state aid)
  • Increased support for teen programs at Southwest Community Center and Boys & Girls Club
  • Restoring staffing to Westmoreland Park on the City’s Eastside
  • Installation of LED lighting and first phase of smart sensors on city-owned street lights
  • New citywide fleet management function to improve maintenance, performance and financing of city vehicles for snow removal, trash and recycling pickup, police, fire, parks, etc.
  • Appoint full-time staff coordinator for the 2020 Census
  • Maintain support to Syracuse Land Bank at FY19 level
  • Expanded sidewalk snow removal program and planning for future citywide sidewalk maintenance, repair and snow removal
  • Tick and deer management program (to be reimbursed by Onondaga County)

Taxes and water rates

The proposed 3.5% tax increase will move the tax rate to $27.56 per thousand assessed valuations. It will result in $2.68 million in revenue to the City and $1.56 million to the Syracuse City School District. The 4% water rate increase of $1.29 million goes directly to a dedicated fund to invest in water services and infrastructure.

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.