ENP STAFF REPORTS
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Anne McCaffrey

A joint statement released Monday from Lockport Mayor Anne McCaffrey and Common Council President Joe Kibler says that city officials, after eliminating several items from the 2015 budget, are still looking at an approximately 6 percent tax increase.

The statement goes on to say that officials plan to meet with key players to attempt to whittle the tax increase to 2 percent or lower.

Additionally, the statement says that the city is seeking grant money from the state for infrastructure improvements totaling over $3 million.

The full statement follows.

I would like to inform the public that members of the Common Council met to review the 2015 budget on Thursday 10/30/14 and much work was done to reduce city expenses going into next year. We were able to get the proposed tax increase down to the 6% range. This was done by reducing some equipment lines, travel and training expenses, and other costs and does not include any additional layoffs. The Council’s decision making included funding those expenses that are mandated or contractual obligations. We will be working with city department heads this week to see if there are further reductions that can be made to reduce the proposed tax increase. The goal continues to be to present a budget at or below the tax cap. In addition, the City has submitted two separate grants to New York State requesting funds for infrastructure improvements totaling over $3 million. We want the public to know that we are concerned with the taxes and will continue to work hard to find efficiencies to keep costs down.

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