Mount Vernon Mayor Clinton Young released details of the city’s proposed 2010 budget today, which calls for a 3.93 percent increase in property taxes. Here is his message regarding the proposed budget.

MAYOR YOUNG’S 2010 PROPOSED BUDGET MESSAGE:
“REORGANIZE. REDUCE. STREAMLINE.”
Mayor proposes 3.93% Budget Increase, one of the lowest in Westchester County

Mount Vernon, NY— “One of my top priorities in managing our city on a daily basis has been to optimize performance and streamline our departments to limit waste and improve efficiency. In these tough times, this goal has become more of a necessity. In 2010, New York State will face serious economic hardships, and the citizens of Mount Vernon are no different. However, the decisions I have made are in the best interest of the city to keep taxes low and boost efficiency.

I am presenting the 2010 budget with a tax rate increase of 3.93 percent. This amounts to an additional $119.00 per household or just $10 per month next year.

In preparing the 2010 Proposed Budget, I want you to be aware of what we face next year. First, on the Revenue side of the budget, we have fallen victim to cuts in the following budget lines:

• $600,000 reduction in Sales & Use Tax;
• $500,000 reduction in Real Property Transfer Tax;
• $600,000 reduction in Returns from Investments;
• $900,000 reduction in State Aid; and
• $1,000,000 projected decline in Mortgage Tax received by the city.

Combined with these revenue decreases, on the Appropriations side of the budget, the $2,000,000 increase in our payment into the New York State Retirement System for Police, Fire, and Local Employees put us in a deep hole that would have amounted to over a 22% increase in taxes. This kind of budget would have been unacceptable.

One of the most important things for the citizens of Mount Vernon to know in this budget is that just about every single increase is due to expenditures that are outside of our control as a municipality, i.e. union contracts and state mandates.”

I have been able to reach a budget that includes an increase of just 3.93% with no reduction in emergency staffing levels. This budget has no excess. It represents what I believe to be, a safe estimate of what we will be able to achieve and provide for you as a city in 2010.

There were three guiding principles that I applied during the course of forming this budget: 1.) To REORGANIZE our departments’ personnel in such a way that would save money and eliminate duplication of duties; 2.) To REDUCE spending in every department to limit waste; and 3.) To STREAMLINE the programs and some jobs that the city just can no longer afford to fund.

The reorganization of city government was the first step we took to bring the tax levy down. In the Fire Department, you will see a sliding down of management personnel to make the department less top heavy and at the same time, this will increase the number of firefighters dedicated to keeping our homes safe. At the same time, I have increased funding for youth programs, as well as streamlined the recreation department.

Altogether, we have reduced proposed departmental spending for 2010 by 15% or $1.175 million. Some of the most dramatic savings will be seen in the Department of Public Works where we have instituted several cost saving policies and planned capital investments to reduce our operating budgets in the areas of overtime, equipment, and maintenance to equipment.

Last year, as we were preparing the 2009 Budget, I made a promise not to eliminate any jobs and I delivered on that promise. Sadly, this year, I have had to propose the elimination of 25 permanent positions in the City of Mount Vernon, 18 of which are currently vacant.

I want the citizens of Mount Vernon to know that municipalities across the state are making the same difficult decisions. Next year, I will assemble a consolidation committee to find new ways to save money and promote efficiency. My administration will also incorporate better technology to bolster efficiency by providing many services online and bring Mount Vernon to a higher level of functionality.

There will be detractors and opponents who will object to our fiscal approach; however, this city cannot continue to be pennywise and pound foolish. My budget plan is designed to save money in the long run. I believe the citizens of Mount Vernon will agree that streamlining government and reducing costs is in the best interest of our city.