The proposed 2017-18 budget from Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren does not raise taxes for city homeowners.
Under the $525.6 million proposal, which is 1.3 percent higher than the current budget, would lower the average tax bill by about $34.91, according to information from the mayor’s office.
The increase in the operating budget would cover the costs for an additional class of police recruits to maintain higher staffing levels during the summer as well as for the purchase of new fire department apparatus and to continue fire safety education programs.
The budget also will maintain support for anti-poverty initiatives that include the Kiva micro-lending program to job creators; job training for Operation Transformation Rochester program participants; RE-Jobs environmental construction job training and placement; Young Adult Manufacturing Training Employment Program; and the Summer of Opportunity program and City internships.
Under the proposal, the city also would spend an additional $800,000 to provide programs for children and families, capital improvements to Adams Street and Ryan R-Centers in partnership with the Rochester City School District, and school-based violence prevention services through Pathways to Peace.
The budget also covers implementation of a new personnel and payroll system, creation of the Office of Business Intelligence in the Police Department to focus on analysis and transparency through an Open Data initiative, and development of a Climate Action Plan to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
Rochester City Council will hold several weekly budget hearings beginning June 7, with a vote planned for June 20.
For more information, visit www.cityofrochester.gov.
