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New Rochelle To Hold Budget Hearing Tuesday

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Residents wanting to voice their opinion about the proposed 2013 city budget can do so Tuesday during a public hearing.

New Rochelle will hold a budget hearing Tuesday.

New Rochelle will hold a budget hearing Tuesday.

Photo Credit: Justin Stock

Residents can also tell council members whether they feel the city should override the proposed tax levy at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers, New Rochelle city hall, 515 North Ave.

The proposal would cut police staffing by two positions and reduce firefighter staffing during certain times, especially at night, based on recommendations of the city’s Citizens Panel on Sustainable Budgets.

The proposed budget would also eliminate curbside loose-leaf pickup, an expected $250,000 savings for the city that would require residents to bag their own leaves.

The $153,551,034 proposed budget would preserve most of the city's services and require a 5.57 percent property tax levy increase, City Manager Charles Strome and Finance Commissioner Howard Rattner said during the document’s official presentation Nov. 13.

The city hopes to prevent a $1.5 million shortfall through property tax increases and reductions in city expenses, Strome and Rattner said.

Strome said during a briefing Nov. 9 that the 5.57 percent tax levy increase equals a 6.99 percent tax rate increase because the city’s tax base decreased by $3.6 million this year.

Strome said the proposed tax increase for the average homeowner would be $207, or about 1 percent of the homeowner’s total tax bill, which includes county and school district taxes.

The council will be able make changes before adopting the budget Dec. 11, which goes into effect Jan. 1.

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