JAMESTOWN – Mayor Sam Teresi will release his 2013 budget proposal this afternoon in city hall. During last week’s city council work session, the mayor gave an update on his proposed spending plan, saying there are once again several uncontrolled costs that are driving up spending in the city. Among the newer costs the city has to contend with is a sharp increase in worker’s compensation payments – which will see a 23 percent increase over the 2012 budget. They mayor says Jamestown currently participates in the Chautauqua County workers compensation package and he and his staff have been trying to determine why the increase is so high.
In addition to worker’s compensation, there are several other costs that are going up in 2013, including increases in employee salaries, benefits and retirement contributions. While the costs continue to rise, Teresi says the revenue remains stagnet, meaning the city will once again be faced with a major fiscal challenge for the upcoming year.
The Jamestown city council has already passed a local law that would give them the ability to raise property taxes above the 2 percent limit if necessary. Although property owners won’t know the specific tax increase the mayor will be calling for until today’s budget presentation. Teresi will give his 2013 budget presentation at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, in the mayor’s conference room on the third floor of City Hall. It will be open to the public.
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