Council advances public-safety fee resolution to committee after amendments to involve assessor, controller and IDA

The Utica Common Council advanced a resolution asking city financial offices and economic agencies to study a proposed public-safety fee and placed related ordinance language into committee after members amended the measure on the floor.

Councilmember Joseph Beatrice introduced a resolution and said he had circulated a letter outlining his plan. Beatrice told colleagues the objective is to identify a fee structure that would charge entities not paying their share of public-safety costs while providing credits to property owners already paying taxes.

On the floor the council amended the resolution to request a corresponding financial analysis from the city assessor, the economic development department, the Utica Industrial Development Agency and the city comptroller. The council also moved to strike the word “universal” from the ordinance title and body, so the measure will be considered as a “public safety fee.” The amendments were adopted on the floor.

Councilmembers discussed basic design questions: whether revenue would be placed in a dedicated public-safety fund or the general fund, and how to credit property taxpayers who already contribute via property tax. Beatrice said an early goal was to have the assessor and comptroller provide data so the council can evaluate cost and implementation options. He suggested the Utica Industrial Development Agency and economic-development staff might help reach negotiated arrangements with large institutions.

The chief of the fire department and other public-safety stakeholders said they had not been broadly briefed before introduction; the chief later said he received the proposal only after it was circulated to council members. Council members agreed the ordinance portion should go to committee so staff offices can prepare financial analyses and stakeholders can be heard before any final action.

No fee or rate was adopted on the floor. The council adopted the resolution as amended to request studies and sent the ordinance to committee for further work, where staff will prepare fiscal impact analyses and the council will consider possible exemptions, credits and implementation mechanics.