Jamestown City Mayor Eddie Sundquist presented his proposed 2024 City Budget, Friday Submitted Photo

Spending is up $1.3 million along with a $210,00 increase in the city’s tax levy as part of Mayor Eddie Sundquist’s 2024 budget proposal.

Sundquist’s $40.15 million proposed 2024 budget is a 3.3% spending increase compared with the $38,850,000 adopted by the City Council for 2023. The proposed tax levy of $16,380,000 is $210,000 more than the 2023 budget. During a presentation Friday, Sundquist highlighted the capital investments he’s calling for in the city’s police and fire departments, the addition of two new Parks and Recreation Department workers and the lack of increase in the city’s tax rate, which has been $23.69 per $1,000 of assessed valuation since 2020.

“I’m proud to say this year, we have a balanced budget with no use of reserve funds,” Sundquist said in his written message. message. “Where we were once at the constitutional tax limit, we have kept the tax rate flat for all four years, saving residents money and increasing our tax margin.”

The proposed budget also includes the hiring of two additional Parks laborers. There are currently 15 laborers in the Parks Department. Under capital projects, Sundquist is proposing the procurement of four new police vehicles, continued maintenance to Jamestown Fire Department facilities, and new equipment for the Public Works and Parks Departments.

Sundquist’s budget calls for a $13,000 a year (18.1%) raise for the city comptroller; a $54,000 a year pay raise for the city assessor’s office, though that increase is due to costs for the pending retirement of assessor Karen Volpe, a $14,676 (17.2%) salary increase for the corporation counsel and an $18,050 (26.96%) a year pay increase for the city clerk. The summer youth employment program is slated to increase from $25,500 in 2023 to $116,500 in 2024, a $91,000 increase, or 356.9%. City Council salaries are projected to increase 39.1% from $46,000 to $64,000 while the mayor’s salary increases from $72,000 to $82,000 this year. Both the council and mayor’s raises were agreed to last year.

“I don’t know how he didn’t deliver a tax decrease,” said Kim Ecklund, R-At Large and Republican candidate for mayor. “I think the council’s goal should be to deliver some reduction.”

Sundquist is projecting a $344,522 increase in sales tax revenues, a $200,000 increase in EMS billing, a $26,644 decrease in parking meter revenues that is offset by increases in parking violations ($15,047) and parking lots and garages revenues ($19,000). Fines and forfeited bail are also projected to increase $14,000. BPU PILOT payments are budgeted for a combined $158,707 increase.

“We have the strongest city finances in over two decades,” Sundquist said. “This resulted in us being able to keep taxes low.”

The budget must be approved by Jamestown City Council before Dec. 1 and is set for council members to discuss it at their monthly meeting on Monday. To see the budget, visit www.jamestownny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Exec-Budget-Summary.pdf