Mayor Ryan Sees Little to Change in Proposed 2013 Budget

10/30/2012 (Updated 11:15:24 PM)

Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan anticipates he'll make little change to the budget city council approved Monday night.

The proposed budget calls for a 6.9% property tax increase.

That hike is smaller than the 10.8% increase Ryan initially proposed, though he said at the time he anticipated the final number would be lower.

Ryan said the city has taken in $300,000 more than anticipated in sales tax revenue.

Plus, the administration cut $200,000 from the fire department by leaving four of eight open positions unfunded.

That, and other cuts, have helped lower the tax rate.

"We came up with an idea to decrease the cost of the Fire Department budget by about $200,000. I put in my share, they put in their share and I think we came out with the best product possible," said Ryan.

Ryan hoped city council would have also voted to override the state's tax cap, even though the budget falls below the cap.

But, council voted 6-1 to not override the tax cap.