Rochester City budget likely to include homeowner property tax increase

Mayor Lovely Warren revealed this weekend that Rochester’s City budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1 might contain a yearly homeowner property tax hike to offset losses caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Mayor Warren described it as a “modest” yearly increase of $134 per homeowner, which breaks down to approximately $2.57 per week or $11.15 per month.

Mayor Warren stated: “This budget reflects our new reality. Our city’s finances are being challenged like never before… This will ensure that essential services, including our police and fire departments, are unaffected by this crisis.”

Funding for essential services was originally supposed to come out of business sales taxes and capital project investments, but these revenue generators have mostly dried up with stay-at-home orders, business closures and halted construction. Under the new budget, homeowners will take on some of the burden while many businesses will pay less: business property taxes were decreased by approximately $244 per business for the next fiscal year.

The tax changes are on top of proposed city employee furloughs, layoffs and work-shares. Mayor Warren emphasized that essential firefighters and police won’t lose their jobs. The budget proposal would also decrease the city’s spending by $26 million.

The Rochester City Council plans to have three budget hearings prior to the final vote. The hearings are scheduled to take place on June 3, 9, and June 10.

Sources:

WHEC
Democrat & Chronicle