Council tables local law to suspend 2025 cost-of-living raises; key budget-related measures advanced

The Utica Common Council on a regularly scheduled meeting introduced Local Law No. 2 of 2025 — a local law that would partially suspend the cost-of-living salary increases in Utica City Charter section 2.025 for the 2025–26 fiscal year — and moved the measure to the table pending further action at a special meeting.

The local law text presented would reduce the charter-mandated 3% cost-of-living adjustment for the mayor, controller, treasurer, president of the common council and council members to 0% for the fiscal year. Council members discussed timing and the need for a public hearing; the motion to lay the local law on the table was made and seconded during the meeting.

Why this matters: Council members and speakers repeatedly tied the local law and other budget amendments to the city’s attempt to reduce the tax levy increase for the coming year. Several council members and a number of public commenters urged caution about deep cuts to core services and legal staff and pressed for revenue solutions going forward.

Most important actions taken and votes at a glance

- Proposed ordinance No. 1 — authorizing sale and/or disposal of surplus city equipment: introduced and adopted by roll call (9 ayes recorded). The ordinance covers the city’s disposition of old desks, computers and other surplus items.

- Commissioner of deeds appointments — Joanna Brennan (476 Coventry Ave) and Gretchen Reavers (11 Beverly Place): both approved by roll call (each recorded as adopted).

- Interfund transfer (ordinance referenced in meeting as an interfund/CIT transfer): the council introduced and voted to change the interfund transfer amounts (recorded vote in the transcript shows the motion introduced and adopted; the specific adjustment discussed increased the CIT portion in one amendment from $750,000 to $1,100,000). The council recorded adoption of an interfund transfer ordinance that included a $300,000 change to reduce the tax levy.

- Police complement ordinance (see separate action below): council adopted an ordinance updating the sworn personnel strength and composition of the Bureau of Police; the ordinance was adopted at final vote.

What council members said

Council members and a speaker identified in the transcript as “Bill” outlined the scale of proposed amendment changes and their estimated tax impacts, urging colleagues to be mindful of contractual and staffing constraints. Council members also discussed the city’s use of prior one-time revenues and ARPA funds, and several urged creating committees to examine revenue and costs for the next fiscal year.

Council President Pro Tem Joseph Vitar (Third District) and other council members emphasized that finishing the budget on schedule was a priority; after the meeting members noted a final budget session scheduled for the next day to finalize the tax rolls.

Context and next steps

Council members stated the local law needed to be finalized in a special session and that the budget would be finalized shortly thereafter. Multiple speakers during the public comment period urged the council to consider the impact of any tax increase on fixed-income residents and renters. The council indicated more budget work will resume at the special meeting and a final vote on the local law and the remaining budget ordinances would follow.

Ending note

Council members said they plan to continue work on revenue options and to monitor department budgets and healthcare costs closely as the city proceeds to finalize the fiscal 2025–26 budget.