City budgets rarely make a statement. But the one approved by Rochester City Council on Tuesday did.
In the name of public safety, it raises spending on police to its highest point while reducing funding to the Police Accountability Board more than any other city program. It also aims to address the concerns of local utility customers.
City council approved the $675 million spending plan from Mayor Malik Evans' administration Tuesday night. However, it was hardly rubber-stamped. Council passed it by a 5-4 margin, with council members Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin, Jose Peo and Kim Smith rejecting it.
The budget finances the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the Rochester Police Locust Club, delivering more to RPD than ever before. It also cuts $1.7 million from the PAB budget.
The citizen panel has been wrought with dysfunction since coming online in 2021 and has yet to use half of its original $5 million annual allotment. The reduction in funding was proposed by its interim leader.
"I am not going to look past their profound and colossal failures under their previous leadership, although I do give them credit for the amazing work they are attempting to do now and I am hopeful they will continue to do so," said Councilmember Michael Patterson. "I am certainly willing to consider anything going forward if they show they are still willing to do the work we created them to do for the people."
"Last night, Rochester City Council approved my administration’s spending plan that will support our efforts to create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester," Evans said in a statement. "This budget is a detailed guide that will take our city from a poverty mindset to a prosperity mindset. It is prudent with its use of taxpayer resources and bold with its objectives to lift Rochester to the upper echelon of great American cities."
Two additions to Mayor Evans' team were created in the budget.
A director of emergency management will be the point person for the city's responses to disasters. The manager of emerging initiatives will guide the city's entry into the legal cannabis industry, as well as other projects such as Rochester's homeless initiative.
City code enforcement, anti-violence and crisis intervention services all maintain their funding levels under the new budget.
In addition, the budget takes steps to address concerns from local utility customers with city council approving a half-million-dollar study on the possibility of creating a public utility company. Many customers, as well as local leaders and activists, have demonstrated against Rochester Gas & Electric's proposal of significant rate hikes.
The movement has built support for the city to establish a utility service here and council chambers were filled with supporters on Tuesday. RG&E responded by saying a government-controlled utility is not the answer for Rochester.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello issued a statement Wednesday voicing his opposition for the $1 million for the public utility study. He says it's a complex issue that is beyond the scope of Monroe County and that RG&E is the largest property tax payer in the county.
"RG&E must improve their service, billing and customer issues," Bello said. "I have advocated for that improvement by opposing the RG&E rate increase directly with the Public Service Commission. I have also met several times with the new local management and with the CEO of AVANGRID to address the legitimate concerns of Monroe County residents. However, creating a public utility is an extremely complex issue that is beyond the scope of Monroe County. It could have billions of dollars of implications for taxpayers."
Finally, city council approved the Rochester City School District's first budget to exceed the $1 billion mark.