SCHENECTADY — Property taxes will remain stable, but homeowners will pay more in water, sewer and waste charges under a preliminary spending plan of about $104 million that Mayor Gary McCarthy has outlined as a ‘stability budget’.
Its draft budget for 2023 is based on $5.8 million in federal COVID relief funds or American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and surpluses.
The tax levy or the amount to be levied by taxes is $31.6 million, about the same amount as in the current budget.
The mayor, during his address Friday at City Hall to reporters and department heads, discussed several construction projects, in many cases multimillion-dollar, including the development of the former elementary school Elmer and the complete transformation of Yates Village, now known as North Side Village and a structure on State Street being converted into the Ortho New York Medical Facility.
As a result of these and other projects, he said Schenectady has generated more than $1 million in permit fees so far this year.
“If you look at the economic development that is continuing today, we are bouncing back from the disruption caused by COVID,” the mayor said. This building boom, McCarthy said, is also extending to parks and city neighborhoods.
Garbage collection will increase to $52 per year
Sewer rates will increase to $25.24 per year
Water rates will increase to $12.97 per year
Source: City of Schenectady
He highlighted plans for a new swimming pool and other improvements to Central Park’s tennis courts and baseball diamonds, as well as other improvements planned for Hillhurst, Jerry Burrell and Riverside parks.
He said the city continues to be plagued by struggling properties.
“We are now beginning our foreclosure process again, and in this budget I am including $2.75 million in income from home sales … but there are a large number of homeowners in the city who are not paying their taxes. “, did he declare. , adding that many foreclosures involve people who were not paying their taxes even before the effect of the pandemic on some people’s finances.
Council President Marion Porterfield said Friday after the mayor’s presentation that she still needed to take a closer look at the budget before commenting on it. She and her fellow councilors must, by state law, pass the budget by Nov. 1.
But before that, the panel must meet with department heads and review the spending plan before discussing any revisions.
Porterfield said as of Friday afternoon, Councilman John Mootooveren, chairman of the finance committee, was still working to set meeting dates.
Meanwhile, Schenectady County Executive Rory Fluman released his proposed $377.9 million budget on Friday ahead of its official Monday night presentation to county lawmakers. The financial plan for next year also calls for property taxes to remain the same.