The Syracuse Common Council may be faced with a proposal to raise property taxes when it votes on a new city budget Monday afternoon. The $618 million budget increases city spending by 1.7 percent to $284 million dollars, but holds the line on school spending at $334-million dollars.
Following a public hearing on the budget on May 4th, two Democratic Syracuse Councilors say they will try to convince their colleagues to go along with a property tax increase to help the Syracuse City School District. Councilors Lance Denno and Nader Maroun want to steer an extra $3.5 million to the school district which would require a property tax increase of 3.4 percent.
Mayor Stephanie Miner has promised to veto such a tax hike, so Denno and Maroun need to convince four other councilors to side with them in order to override a veto. Last year, Miner imposed a 5.4 percent property tax increase.
Other councilors are expected to offer amendments to the budget including one that would increase sales tax revenue to increase spending by a million dollars.
The City School District which had been facing a $50-million deficit, has proposed a spending cut of 6 percent and the elimination of at least 500 teachers, administrators and other personnel or about 14 percent of its workforce.
CNY Central will have complete coverage of the budget vote throughout the day.
