The City of Rochester’s FY20 budget was proposed just after the release of “Rochester 2034,” the City’s Draft Comprehensive Plan for the next 15 years. The Children’s Agenda urges the City to target resources toward 3 critical investments.

Among local public entities who touch the lives of children and youth, the City has unique opportunities. City decisions impact every aspect of a child’s life – housing, neighborhoods, education, literacy, public safety, healthy environments, physical activity, recreation, employment and more.

The total 2017-18 adopted budget for the City of Rochester is $525.6M, 1.3% higher than the 2016-17 amended budget of $518.8M.

The total 2016-17 adopted budget for the City of Rochester is $517M, 2.3% higher than the 2015-16 amended budget of $505M. The property tax levy for City taxpayers is $154.2M (up $2.9M from last year) due to an 8% increase in total assessed value of property. The average homeowner will see his/her tax bill decrease by $15.85 per year, and business owners will see their tax bill decrease by an average of $215.22. The City expects sales tax revenue to increase by $1.63M. Refuse and Local Works rates are held steady; Water rates increase by 3%.

The City’s workforce grows by a net of 13 full-time positions, including 3 in the Department of Recreation and Youth Services (DRYS). A $6M allocation from New York State for anti-poverty efforts was used to cover the costs of maintaining existing programs such as the Office of Innovation and capital projects in the RMAPI target neighborhoods.