This week at Auburn City Hall, officials laid out the blueprint for the city’s finances over the next year. The short answer for taxpayers wondering what could happen, is that things will probably be challenging.
City Manager Jeff Dygert and City Comptroller Rachel Jacobs led the session.
The draft budget, though far from finalized, showed an expected increase of 4% compared to the previous year, reaching a total of $45,487,473. Dygert acknowledged the inevitable financial hurdles, saying, “this year is going to be one of the tough years that we have.”
Department heads had been asked to make significant cuts, and most had risen to the challenge. However, the largest adjustments were anticipated in the realm of salary and wages, which Dygert noted were a significant part of any budget. The currently recommended budget for 2024 allocated $23,112,879 for salaries and wages, marking a 4.8% increase from the previous year.
A 7% increase in fringe benefits was also expected, alongside rising pension costs for the police and fire retirement system. However, a decrease was projected for the employee retirement system, and health insurance costs were estimated to increase by 4%.
Much remains unknown, including what the final cost to taxpayers will be.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected]