The Vote on the 2020 City Budget

Although Gossips predicted Alderman Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward) would question the amount budgeted for the dog control officer, that didn't happen. Instead Garriga asked if a 2.2 percent increase in the City budget meant that taxes would go up. City treasurer provided the information that in 2019 $5.27 million had to be raised in property taxes and in 2020 the amount would be $5.47 million--an increase of $200,000.

Alderman Rich Volo (Fourth Ward) made a cautionary statement about the budget, pointing out that the fund balance was now as low as it had ever been in recent memory, and, according to the City's own policies, no more money could be taken from the fund balance to close the gap between revenue and expenses. He noted that the budget proposed for 2020 is dependent on the current trends continuing. The 2020 budget anticipates increases in sales tax (11.8 percent), the lodging tax (21.4 percent), and parking meter revenue (17.2 percent)--all of which, although Volo didn't say it, are dependent on tourism, which, like gentrification, is becoming a dirty word in Hudson. 

When the Council voted on accepting the budget, the vote was unanimously in favor. The 2020 budget can be viewed here.
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