KINGSTON – The Kingston Common Council unanimously approved Mayor Steven Noble’s 2020 proposed budget, which includes raises for council officials for the first time since 1996 at their regular meeting on Tuesday evening.
The total budget comes in at $44.46 million and will keep the tax levy increase at zero percent for the fifth consecutive year.
Among approved amendments to the spending plan are allocations for various community projects and capital expenses accounting for approximately $500,000; council members’ salary will increase approximately two percent a year and the mayor’s salary will increase from $75,000 to $80,000 per year.
Third Ward Alderman Reynolds Scott-Childress said compared to other municipalities, salaries in Kingston have not been adequate and it is about time they are representative of what other officials and city workers are paid.“The Kingston Common Council should receive an annual increase of two percent per year, something along the lines of what we provide for our various unions and hard workers in the city,” said Scott-Childress. “The annual salary would now be $10,450, or somewhere thereabouts, Therefore, I think its high time that we move our salary up,” he said.
Mayor Noble is happy with the budget and amendments and will not be vetoing the council’s decision. “I think that this is a really great budget to help move forward really important initiatives here in the city of Kingston and this is really the blueprint that allows us to be able to move those projects forward,” said Noble.
Mayor Noble will sign the final budget on Wednesday.
Actual tax rates will decline for the third consecutive year – homestead will drop from $9.73 to $9.04 per $1,000 of assessed valuation and a drop for non-homestead from $15.59 to $14.24 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
