Because of a change in the sales-tax distribution formula, Syracuse is looking at one of its most restrictive budgets in recent years.
The final budget proposal for the 1993-94 fiscal year will be adopted Tuesday, June 8, 8 p.m. in a public hearing."We've tried to be conservative," said city manager Mike Moyes of the proposed budget. "There's not a lot of fat in it. We've had to cut a lot of projects out."
Moyes said Syracuse has a very good commercial tax base for a small bedroom city, but with the sales-tax distribution formula changing in a way that will aid bedroom communities with no tax base, Syracuse will suffer.
Syracuse has RC Willey Home Furnishings and Hamblin's grocery store as its main tax base, and the city is expected to have an approximate $30,000 decrease in sales tax revenues, although Moyes explained that's only an estimate.
Major city spendings and projects still in the budget include a payment of $103,00 due next year on the first part of Syracuse's culinary water upgrade; a storm drain project on 1500 West (due for completion by October); fire department gear, $7,410; police guns, $1,332; utility safety equipment, $6,000; and a back hoe, $4,500.
The Syracuse monthly garbage fees will rise $1.50 a month because of tipping fee increases at the burn plant. The garbage fees may also increase by as much as another $3.50 a month because of a rise in collection fees being charged by Clearfield City, with which Syracuse contracts.
Moyes hopes that $5 monthly garbage increase is a worse-case scenario.
Syracuse will also begin charging building permits fees for the first time ever and city employees will have a 2 percent cost of living increase during the coming fiscal year.