POUGHKEEPSIE – The Poughkeepsie Common Council adopted their 2017 budget amendments in a 5-2 vote, reducing the mayor’s tax increase by three percent to 13.5 percent.
In a meeting Thursday evening that was not attended by Majority Leader Randall Johnson, the council approved amendments that cut raises to management by 50 percent, increased projected revenues related to parking fines, and increased the fees associated with operating a taxi in the city. There was no amendment to extend funding for the city’s bus system beyond June but a public hearing was set for December 19 to address raising the bus fares by 50 cents.
Mayor Robert Rolison was confused by the situation.
“I am perplexed why you have a declining ridership, you raise the fares 50 cents and you are not funding the bus system, which I proposed, after June,” Rolison said. “They raised the fares to reduce the tax levy; it has nothing to do with the buses.”
Councilman Lee Klein, the lone Republican, credited the Republican mayor with presenting a “bare-bones” budget with realistic revenue projections. While disappointed with a 16.5 percent tax increase in the mayor’s budget, he voted against the amendments citing what he considered “unrealistic” projections by the council. Councilwoman Ann Perry also voted against the amendments.
Rolison said after the meeting that he was concerned about the amendments as they relate to revenue. He cited the financial woes that have been caused by overly optimistic revenue projections that have taken place in the past, specifically the 2015 budget.
Council Chairman Chris Petsas vowed to have the Democratic majority override any mayoral changes at a meeting on December 21.
