Batavia say cut budget, not raise taxes for $150,000

Batavia aldermen Monday told the city administrator to find another $150,000 to cut out of the proposed 2016 budget, in lieu of raising property taxes $150,000.

Only aldermen Susan Stark, Lucy Thelin Atac and Alan Wolff voted against the measure, which was proposed by Alderman Michael Russotto.

"Why wasn't that motion made at one of the previous two budget hearings?" Wolff said. He said other aldermen were "grandstanding" because "we want to look good to the public and on Facebook."

"It's 50 cents a month. You want to make a real difference, let's figure out what to do with our utilities," Wolff said. The proposed budget assumes an increase in how much customers pay for electricity, water and sanitary-sewer service. The council hasn't approved the increases.

But Alderman Marty Callahan -- who frequently interacts with residents via a Facebook account -- said he had suggested cuts at the budget workshops.

The city's finance director, Peggy Colby, had estimated that raising the property taxes by $150,000 would cost the owner of a $300,000 home about $6 more a year.

Colby had initially suggested a $900,000 property tax increase.

The motion was made during a public hearing on the budget. The council will vote on the budget Dec. 7. The fiscal year starts Jan. 1.

The council will discuss the proposed 2016 property-tax levy Dec. 7. It has until Dec. 29 to approve the levy.

Resident Bob Baty-Barr noted the council was talking about $150,000 in a budget of approximately $104 million. He suggested that instead of instituting a 2 percent tax on alcoholic beverages, the council increase that to 3 percent. He said he frequently visits Batavia restaurants and bars, and that wouldn't stop him from going.

Resident Sylvia Keppel had suggested that rather than raising the property taxes $150,000, the council consider using money it received from the sale of the land on which the Speedway gasoline station is being built.