Binghamton Mayor Pleased With Small Tax Hike

Binghamton City Council is close to approving a finalized budget for the coming year.

Mayor Matthew Ryan says lawmakers have trimmed spending slightly from the plan he presented last month.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Ryan said with the changes being made by council, the residential property tax rate would rise very slightly in 2014.

The mayor's proposal had carried a residential tax rate hike of 0.3 percent and a commercial property tax rate increase of 1.1 percent.

With the revisions, Ryan said property owners will see an increase of "virtually nothing."

The mayor said he's disappointed lawmakers chose not to establish a new position of chief information officer. He said hiring someone in that role would have helped City Hall make better use of information technology software.

City Council has scheduled a public hearing on the revised budget plan for 6:30 p.m. October 25.

Lawmakers are expected to adopt the final spending package when they meet October 30 at 5 p.m.