By Kenneth C. Crowe II
Times Union
TROY, N.Y. — Mayor Patrick Madden was looking to cut the proposed 28.2 percent property tax increase as the City Council reviewed the proposed 2017 budgets for the fire and police departments Tuesday night.
The two departments account for nearly half of the city’s tentative $72.3 million budget, drawing the council’s attention particularly on overtime costs.
The proposed 2017 budget has left the council seeking ways to cut the tax hike for homeowners, who will see a jump in their tax bills. The city is facing the outcome of years of fiscal decisions that averted tax hikes but never reined in controlling costs.
Madden told members of the Troy Downtown Business Improvement District last week he is working on reducing the proposed tax increase.
Just how much, hasn’t been determined, Madden said in an interview this week.
“We’re certainly looking at our costs and revenues,” the mayor said.
To cut 1 percent of the proposed tax hike, the city must reduce spending by $200,000 or increase non-tax revenues by $200,000. For instance, a 5 percent tax cut would require $1 million in savings, new revenues or a combination.
The City Council is set to vote at its Nov. 3 meeting on raising various building code fees and the fees for vacant buildings. Madden said his staff is analyzing what how much additional revenue this wold provide. He wouldn’t make an estimate.
The City Council is conducting a department by department budget review.
City Council President Carmella Mantello called the fire department’s overtime budget of $1.48 million unacceptable.
“There’s something in the department that’s not being controlled,” Mantello told Fire Chief Thomas Garrett.
Overtime is driven by the minimum staffing requirement of 24 firefighters per shift, payments while firefighters are attending school; and other mandatory requirements, the chief said.
“Our minimum manning levels are consistent with or less than comparable cities,” said Firefighter Frank Razzano, president of the Troy Uniformed Firefighters Association, adding the union has worked to assist the city.
Police Chief John Tedesco said his overtime budget of $1.13 million also is driven by meeting the minimum staffing of eight patrol officers per shift. He said greater flexibility in the contract with the Troy Police Benevolent Association would help.
The City Council must file committee reports on the budget by Nov. 15 and then meet with the mayor on Nov. 16 to consider suggested budget changes.
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