The Canandaigua City Council approved the city’s 2026 budget Monday night, passing the spending plan on a roll-call vote in which outgoing Mayor Bob Palumbo voted “no,” while the rest of the council voted in favor.
The meeting also included multiple appointments, a slate of budget-related resolutions, several measures tied to state aid and local revenue, and engineering and chemical contracts.
Appointments and meeting business
Council members approved the Nov. 17 meeting minutes and heard a manager’s report that reminded residents they have 24 hours after snowfall ends to clear adjacent sidewalks. The report also noted City Hall would be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and that a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected council members was scheduled for Dec. 29 at 10 a.m.
The council then approved appointments to the Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Assessment Review. The agenda listed David Plante for the Planning Commission; Bill Wright, T.J. Falbo and Julie Harris for the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Karen White for the Board of Assessment Review.
Resolution honoring Palumbo
Council members took up Resolution 2025-081, a resolution of appreciation and gratitude recognizing and thanking Palumbo for his service as a council member (2018–2020) and mayor (2020–2025).
During remarks, Palumbo referenced the demands of public service on his family and said, “It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve this city in this capacity.”
Budget, taxes, fees and water rates
Councilmember Donna Cator introduced the budget resolution, Resolution 2025-082, before the council voted to approve the 2026 budget.
Afterward, Councilmember Gwen Van Laeken moved Resolutions 2025-083 through 2025-088 as a single block, covering the 2026 tax levy and tax collection measures, the 2026 Business Improvement District budget and levy, authorization for the city manager to enter certain budget-related contracts, changes to the city fee schedule, and the resolution establishing water rates.
In discussion, Councilmember Thomas Lyon said he had calculated that about 26.5% of a typical total tax bill is the city portion, with county taxes at about 20.9% and school taxes at about 52.6%. City Manager John Goodwin also addressed a question about the fund balance, saying it was “not why taxes went up,” and said the city appropriates fund balance to help offset expenditures and maintain a fund-balance range of 16% to 25%.
Health officer appointment and land donation for flood mitigation
Council members also approved Resolution 2025-089 appointing Kate Ott, RN, MPH, as local health officer for a term beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and ending Dec. 31, 2029.
The council then approved Resolution 2025-090 accepting a donation of 8.99 acres at 111 North Street, described as supporting flood-mitigation efforts in the Sucker Brook sub-watershed and enabling construction of a stormwater detention facility to mitigate flooding downstream.
State aid, arterial maintenance and hotel tax home rule request
Councilmember Michael Mills read Resolution 2025-091 supporting continued and increased state aid for local governments and calling on the governor and state Legislature to continue an additional $50 million in unrestricted state aid in the 2026-27 state budget and beyond.
Council members also advanced Resolution 2025-092 supporting increased reimbursement for arterial maintenance, including a request for an increase to $2.54 per square yard and noting Canandaigua’s reimbursement would rise from $144,589 to $432,067.
Councilmember Doug Merrill presented Resolution 2025-093 requesting municipal home rule to amend state tax law to increase the maximum hotel and motel occupancy tax rate from 3% to a level not to exceed 5%, directing the city manager to request home rule legislation from Sen. Pam Helming and Assemblymember Jeff Gallahan.
Chemical bids and engineering contracts
The council approved Resolutions 2025-094 and 2025-095 together as a single block awarding contracts for chemicals at the Water Resource Recovery Facility and the Water Treatment Plant.
It also approved two engineering-related resolutions involving the Sucker Brook watershed and Colliers Engineering & Design: Resolution 2025-096 awarding a climate adaptation plan contract for $93,000, and Resolution 2025-097 authorizing further evaluation of Phase 1 hydraulic analysis alternatives for $20,800, plus additional costs for survey work and model runs.
Sewer rents and executive session
Near the end of the meeting, the council took up Local Law 2025-003 establishing and imposing sewer rents, after moving to lift the item from the table. The discussion referenced a sewer rent charge of $6.4282 per 1,000 gallons with a minimum quarterly charge of $72, quarterly billing, payment due within 20 days, and a 15% penalty for late payment.
Palumbo then closed the public meeting and said the council would go into executive session “to discuss collective bargaining and employment of a particular person.”
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].