Budget cuts four positions in city

OGDENSBURG — The city's preliminary 2010 budget calls for the elimination of four positions, including the directors of the Economic Development and Housing Rehabilitation offices, and a 12.4 percent property tax rate increase.

On Monday afternoon, City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra released the 2010 spending plan of $18,091,668, an increase of $191,985, or about 1 percent, from the current year's budget of $17,899,683.

A property tax rate increase of 12.4 percent results from a 17 percent increase in the tax levy, from $3,833,629 in 2009 to $4,490,257 in 2010, a hike of $656,628.

Mr. Sciorra said that increases of $181,000 to the retirement fund, health care cost increases of $198,000 and salary increases of $90,000 required because of contractual commitments, along with an estimated $71,000 reduction in sales tax revenue and a loss of an estimated $111,000 in state revenue, are driving the levy hike.

The increase in the property tax rate, up from $14.61 to $16.42 per $1,000, a difference of $1.81, is still a lower rate than seen in years past, according to Mr. Sciorra.

On a house assessed at $75,000, the tax will be $1,231.50, up by $135.75.

Four positions are on the chopping block, with the 2010 budget reducing city personnel from about 112 full-time employees to 108.

One position proposed for elimination is the Economic Development Zone director, currently filled by Kimberly R.

DesChamp. That position lost $76,000 in funding with the demise of the state Empire Zone Program. Mr. Sciorra said the position's responsibilities, including economic development programs, the Joint Economic Development Commission, the Ogdensburg Growth Fund business loans and others, would be consolidated with the director of planning and development position and implemented through a variety of shared service agreements.

The city also is facing a deficit of $105,000 with its housing rehabilitation program as a result of housing audit findings and the depletion of the traditional housing program funds that were used to fund the housing program. Funding for the salary of the director of rehabilitation, Mark E. Jacobs, would have had to come from the general fund.

Mr. Sciorra said that "to continue to deliver quality housing program services the city will eliminate the housing rehab coordinator position, and is poised to partner with the St. Lawrence County Housing Council, a nonprofit certified housing delivery organization."

The other two staffing cuts will be in the city comptroller's office. One position will be abolished when its occupant retires. Duties will be consolidated into the current personnel in the unit. The Recreation Department will have a part-time employee cut.