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This week, the $118,302,255 million budget was released to the community, representing a potential 4.87 percent property tax percent increase for homeowners, less than $20 per month on average per household.
The proposed budget includes funding for a dozen new police officers and restores funding for a Police Commissioner, “allowing the city to recruit a talented visionary to lead the department.” It also would add five new firefighters and restore an Inspector General.
The spending plan also calls for additional funding for his office according to a lohud report, including giving himself a raise of his current $143,000 salary to $160,000.
“We are strengthening public safety and supporting the men and women that go to work every day to keep us safe,” Thomas stated. “This budget restores a dozen police officers. It adds five firefighters and inspectors to the Fire Department. This is a budget for Mount Vernon and it allows us to continue moving forward.”
According to Thomas, “the known liabilities for the city include sewers, Memorial Field clean-up, DPW yard clean-up, Urban Renewal Agency and amount to staggering threats to property taxes due to past obstructionism by the City Council.”
The complete budget can be seen here.
“Public safety is essential to enhancing our quality of life, raising property values, and keeping our city safe and secure,” Thomas added. “In addition, the city’s current construction boom and revenue-enhancing measures means we can keep the tax rate to a modest 4.87 percent increase.”
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