Lower Property Taxes, Zero Sewer Increase in Proposed Binghamton Budget

Property owners in the City of Binghamton are due to pay less in taxes next year and get a promise from the Mayor for a 0% increase in their sewer fee.

Mayor Richard David delivered his 2020 budget address that calls for spending $97-million with a 3.02% cut in residential property taxes, .28% cut in commercial taxes and plans to work with City Council and Johnson City toward an anticipated 0% increase in the water and sewer rates. The Mayor says his proposed property tax cut would be the largest since 1998.

The Republican has also outlined plans to spend close to a million dollars $900,000) for public safety improvements.  While the Binghamton Police Station entrance and other facilities got an upgrade this past year, the Mayor says the plans for 2020 call for improvements to the fire headquarters, bays and other aging infrastructure as well as the purchase of a fire engine, four new police patrol cars and five medical services vehicles.

David’s budget continues to address fixes to the City’s infrastructure that is to include nine-point-eight million dollars for street reconstruction as well as $600,000 for the replacement of the tennis courts at MacArthur School and at Recreation Park, which hosts the annual LG&T Tennis Challenger Tournament.

Council will now review the proposal and make changes prior to adopting a final budget in November.