JAMESTOWN – The president of the Jamestown City Council has some serious concerns regarding the financial future of the city and other municipalities throughout New York State. Council President Greg Rabb on Tuesday responded to the 2013 executive budget proposal that was put forward by Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi. Rabb said that while he is not especially alarmed about the 2013 budget, he added that 2014 and the following years could have an adverse impact on services provided by the city, despite the best efforts of its leaders.
Mayor Teresi responded to Rabb’s concerns by again stating that unless the state provides relief – especially in regard to the state retirement system and the amount the city has to contribute to it on an annual basis – budgeting will continue to be a difficult process for all communities throughout New York.
On Tuesday afternoon, the mayor presented a $33,452,000 proposed budget that calls for a tax rate increase of 6.44 percent. In his presentation, Teresi said a combination of factors, including a difficult economic environment combined with continued increases in state mandates and new federal regulations are what have made the budgeting process difficult.
The city council will begin its budget deliberations next Monday night, Oct. 15. It has until Dec.1 to finalize and adopt a spending plan. Copies of the budget book are available for public review in the mayor’s office, city clerk’s office and at the reference desk of the Prendergast Library. The executive summary of the budget is available online at jamestownny.net.
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