The Common Council adopted the 2024 general city budget on a 5-1 vote Wednesday. The lone “no” was cast by 4th Ward Alderman Kathryn Fogle.
The approved $29.4 million spending plan is slightly different than the plan that went to a public hearing Oct. 25. Mayor Michelle Roman withdrew her recommendation to hire a full-time Director of Youth and Community Relations, whose budgeted total annual cost was $73,000, and on the revenue side, forecasted revenue from Lockport Fire Department’s ambulance transport service was reduced to 72.5% of billings from 75%.
The net effect of the changes was a very slight reduction in the projected tax levy and tax rate. The 2024 tax levy is $13,449,000, a 1.25% increase over the 2023 levy, and the 2024 tax rate is $10.73 per $1,000 of assessed property value — 63 cents less than the current rate.
The amount of forecasted ambulance service revenue was adjusted at the behest of 2nd Ward Alderman Luke Kantor, who had argued that a more “conservative” number would be easier to hit.
Of his reasoning, Kantor explained, “If we don’t hit that mark, where will that money come from? Are we going to have to dig out of our revenue … the money we set aside? I don’t want to have to take out of fund balance.”
Alderman-at-large Lisa Swanson-Gellerson said she agreed with Kantor and the council collectively cooperated and compromised to set a budget that everyone could live with.
“It was very harmonious,” she said.
The council also adopted the 2024 water and sewer budgets, which drove across-the-board 2% user fee increases.
There are no changes in refuse disposal annual fees in 2024. The basic fees are: $149.05 with one 35-gallon refuse cart, $178.20 with one 64-gallon cart and $204.05 with one 96-gallon cart. Higher fees apply when multiple carts are in use.