The total 2020 – 21 proposed budget for the City of Rochester is $529,659,100, which is $26,049,000 (4.7%) lower than the 2019-20 amended budget of $555,708,100. The 2020-21 total property tax levy for City taxpayers is $187,637,400, $9 million more than last year. The average homeowner’s tax bill will increase by $133.79, and commercial property owners will see their tax bill decrease by an average of $243.94. Typical Refuse, Water and Local Works charges remain unchanged.

An estimated $40.5 million budget gap, which then grew to $64.4 million given the financial crisis resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic, was closed through:

Expenses:
• Reductions to cash capital and enterprise fund balances – $ 27.5 million
• Net Departmental reductions and efficiencies – $7.3 million
• Savings in healthcare contributions through union agreement – $5.0 million
• Reductions to Contingency, including furlough/workshare savings – $4.1 million

Revenues:
• Additional use of fund balance in the General Fund – $7.7 million
• Increased revenue from Utilities Gross Receipts Tax – 1.7 million
• Additional use of Premium and Interest to pay Debt Service – $1.0 million
• Additional federal revenue, including CDBG – $0.8 million
• Increased property tax and PILOT revenue – $9.3 million

In April, the following 2019-20 mid-year budget-saving actions were implemented:
• Hiring freeze
• Cuts to discretionary spending – $14 million
• Reductions in City workforce – $2.1 million from 17 lay-offs; 178 workers furloughed through July 28; 208 assigned to workshare.