Utica Common Council Passes 2016-17 Budget

Utica residents will see a 1.29 percent property tax increase under the 2016-17 budget passed Wednesday night by the Common Council.

The council made 50 amendments to Mayor Robert Palmieri's $68.4 million budget proposal, which carried a 1.75 percent tax increase.

The biggest cut the council made was trimming the mayor's infrastructure improvement program from $800,000 to $50,000.

Councilman Joe Marino says the goal of the council was to pass a balanced budget.  He says the council made changes to the spending plan to close a $618,000 deficit that was going to be covered by part of the city's fund balance.

Marino says the council passed the budget in a "financially responsible" way and did not cut any services.

Mayor Palmieri has four days to veto any of the changes made to the budget.

The new budget takes effect on April 1st.