By a four-to-one margin, the Niagara Falls City Council voted to throw out a proposed garbage user fee increase.

Instead, Mayor Paul Dyster will add a 13 percent increase in property taxes to his budget.

"We said that if the council was willing to go up to but not exceed the property tax cap that we would be willing to do that," Dyster said.  

Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 million in new revenue from the proposed fee, estimated at $168 per household per year.  

Following a 15 percent subsidy and tax cut, taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 

The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at City Hall and during council meetings. 

"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted, you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes, especially with a two-tiered tax system, less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 

In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 million in Seneca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 

Mayor Paul Dyster said the city does not yet have the advance.

"We don't require those funds as of yet," he said. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds. Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement between the Seneca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds.”

A public hearing on the budget for November 14 has been cancelled. 

Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 

Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget. 
 
Garbage user fee out of Niagara Falls 2019 Budget 
 
 
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. -- In a four to one vote Thursday -- Niagara Falls Council members agreed to toss Mayor Paul Dyster's proposed garbage user in exchange for a 13% increase in property taxes. 
 "We said that if the council was willing to go up to, but not exceed the property tax cap -- that we would be willing to do that," said Dyster. 
Niagara Falls stood to earn at least $3.1 Million in new revenue from the proposed fee which was estimated at $168 per year. 
Following at 15% subsidy and tax cut , taxpayers would've had to pay $25 annually. 
The fee was not welcomed by some residents who protested at city hall and during council meetings. 
"People reacted to something that I don't think was fully understood," said City Administrator, Nick Melson. "The way that a user fee is crafted  -- you have a lot of people paying a little bit. With taxes especially with a two-tiered tax system -- less people are going to be paying a little bit more." 
In September, Governor Cuomo announced that the state would advance the Falls $12.3 Million in Senaca Casino revenue to help with their budget shortfall. 
Mayor Paul Dyster explained to Spectrum News why the city does not have the advance.
"We don't require those funds as of yet," said Dyster. "The state will hold those funds until we ask them to transfer funds . Our hope is still that there could be a negotiated settlement  between the Senaca Nation and the state of New York before we ever need those funds. 
A public hearing on the budget for November 14th has been cancelled. 
Niagara Falls City Council members are working the final details of the 2019 budget.