01-13-12 13
Mt. Vernon, NY
Breaking News
Mt.
Vernon City Council approves 2012 budget with a
6.15 percent tax-rate increase
It
took a herculean effort and marathon meetings by
the Mount Vernon City Council body, but finally,
the City of Mount Vernon has a budget in place
for 2012.
On Thursday night, January 12, after having heard the
pleas of many Mount Vernon citizens during a
public meeting the night before, City Council
members voted 4-1 to adopt a spending plan of
approximately $92 million dollars, with a tax
increase of 6.15 percent. The Board of Estimate
and Contract had recommended a 6.91 increase in
the tax rate. Former City Council President,
Karen Watts, abstained on the vote, citing the
deep reduction in funds allocated for the
library as a reason. In the approved budget, the
library will receive $3.6 million for 2012, up from $3.5
million last year, but down from $3.9 million in
2010.
“We could not put the City of Vernon in jeopardy, and
unfortunately, we felt obligated to reduce
funding for the library. They will need to get
more creative and seek ways to obtain grants in
order to sustain themselves,” said Councilperson
Yuhanna Edwards. “None of us are pleased with
this process, since former mayor Young left us
in unchartered waters. We plan to have a zero
increase in place next time around, since Mayor
Davis is fiscally conservative. This will never
happen again on our watch.”
“I think many of
us on the City Council felt a need to sharpen
our pencils and find a way to reduce the tax
rate increase even further. I was personally
moved by some of the comments that came from the
taxpayers the night before. Therefore, I think
we acted compassionately, but also responsibly,
when we discovered ways to reduce the increase
to 6.15 percent,” said newly elected
Councilperson, Deborah Reynolds.
Council President
Roberta Apuzzo stated: “We were able to
fine-tune and approve the 2012 budget without
major cuts in programs or jobs.”
Over two-hundred
concerned taxpayers attended a public meeting on
the proposed 2012 budget at City Hall January
11, and dozens of them spoke for and against
the budget. Fireworks were
expected to take place at the meeting, but
instead, the crowd was very civil, which
contributed in helping the two new young
councilpersons experience their first public
meeting uneventfully.
One senior citizen told the City Council
members that
many of her friends have lost their homes due to
high taxes, and that the proposed tax increase
will further cripple many of Mount Vernon’s
seniors. Another taxpayer told
the City Council members that there needs to be
greater accountability on how their tax dollars
are being spent to avoid a repeat of what
happened during Davis’ previous tenure as mayor.
“Mount Vernon
city workers need to pay their share on medical
costs. Many municipalities are deducting 15%
from workers’ salaries to help offset the costs
of medical expenses,” said one female taxpayer.
Her comments certainly got Councilperson Richard
Thomas' attention,. since he plans to research
the idea.
It is apparent
that the public meeting held the night before
the vote took place influenced the Council
members. "It was a real display of democracy in
action," some have said.
New
President of the City Council, Roberta Apuzzo,
did a fine job in keeping the public meeting
held January 11
civil.
Newly elected
Councilperson, Richard Thomas (l) sitting next
to veteran Councilperson, Yuhanna Edwards,
during the voting process.
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