Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren Credit: PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren has proposed a $517 million budget for 2016-2017 that increases spending but lowers taxes for homeowners and businesses. 

Warren unveiled the spending plan this morning. Public hearings will be held early next month, followed by a City Council vote on June 14. 

An 8 percent increase in the city’s overall property value means that the average homeowner would see a $15.85 decrease in his or her property tax bill, Warren said. The increased overall value of property in the city, coming after years of mostly  declining values, is a positive sign for the city, she said. 

The budget would add 20 police officers and two investigators, Warren said, and the popular single-stream recycling program would be expanded to cover the whole city. 

Despite the positive trends, Warren said that the city still faces significant economic challenges. The 2016-2017 budget, for example, had a $41.2 million gap that Warren closed by using reserve funds, a one-time infusion of state aid, and other methods. 

The budget increases spending by 2.3 percent and the tax levy by $2.5 million. 

This article appears in May 11-17, 2016.

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2 replies on “Warren’s new budget lowers taxes, increases spending”

  1. If property values jumped 8%, how did the average homeowner get a reduction in taxes? Was there a reduction in the tax rate?

    There is a $41.2 million dollar gap (spending 12.6% more than we have), and yet spending goes up by another 2.3%?

    Who cares about a $15.85 reduction in taxes when the city keeps adding to the debt?

    This is why we need a business woman in charge, not a politician.

  2. The “deficit” is a largely made up number. City hall over estimates expenses while under estimating revenue. That’s how they “close the gap” every year without major service cuts.

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