Rochester Reveals Initial Budget

The proposed budget for the next fiscal year could bring a property tax cut

It could help farmers./// rochester residents could soon be seeing a drop in our property tax bill.

It's one of a series of noteworthy announcement s coming from rochester city hall.

Kimt new three's anthony monzon joins us live with a look at the initial city budget for the next fiscal year ?

"* anthony?

George... the initial budget presented today included a significant cut to the city's operating costs... to the tune of almost 100?

"* million?

"* dollars.

But in doing so... officials were able to also cut taxes in a few key areas.

The headline change here is a reduction to rochester's property tax rate.

The city will essentailly be asking for the same amount of money from property owners... but because there are now more taxable properties than last year... the amount being payed by each property owner will drop.

Outside of tax changes... the budget also proposes a temporary hiring freeze for vacant positions within the city... which raised concerns from counciler michael wojcik.

That prompted city administrator steve rymer to acknowledge doing so may have an adverse affect on how efficiently the city operates.

Xxx "there will be impacts, we're trying to minimize, mitigate those as best possible, recognizing that this is the point in time when those are the type of tough decisions we have to make, as you referenced, in order to bring forward a responsible spending plan for the council to consider."

It's also worth noting the budget includes funding for the city to hire its first?

"*ever diversity equity and inclusion director.

Thank you anthony.

The city is expected to continue making modifications to the proposed budget through