ONEONTA _ The Common Council on Tuesday was presented with a tentative budget for 2010 that shows a 2.9 percent reduction in overall spending from this year's spending plan but a 4 percent increase in the tax levy.
The proposal includes an application of between $900,000 and $1 million from the city's fund balance. This was done to offset the decline in revenues and keep the tax-levy increase at 4 percent, according to city officials.
Preliminary estimates show that for a home assessed at $85,000 _ which is the average in the city _ there would be an increase of about $45 from last year's tax bill for that homeowner.
The budget will be voted on by the Common Council next month.
Aldermen also unanimously approved a local law that sets sewer rates for 2010. The rates for the minimum usage step for city customers will rise by $10 to $120. For customers in the town of Oneonta, the minimum usage step will rise by $15 to $180.
Sewer rates beyond the minimum usage will also increase based on water-meter readings and are calculated at a rate per thousand gallons or a rate per thousand cubic feet, depending on meter type.
Sewer rates are set by local law, while water rates are set separately through a motion by the Common Council, which is expected to happen next month.
In other business Tuesday, aldermen voted unanimously to promote police officers Chris Witzenburg and Ralph Pajerski to the rank of sergeant at a $52,500 annual salary.
Former Sgt. Andrew Barber resigned in early October after he was implicated in an investigation into alleged misconduct by police officers.
A second sergeant, Andrew Thomas, recently resigned because of personal reasons, Seventh Ward Alderman Lizabeth Shannon said following the meeting.
Thomas' resignation was not associated with the ongoing investigation into the alleged misconduct by three current or former officers, she said.
His last day will be today, and Witzenburg and Pajerski are expected to assume their supervisory duties as sergeants today, Shannon said.
