Jamestown’s budget is expected to be approved during tonight’s City Council meeting – though it’s still up in the air exactly what the council will be approving.

The agenda for tonight’s council agenda includes much of the original budget as proposed by Mayor Kim Ecklund in October. Changes have been discussed and will be formally introduced on the floor of the council voting session at 7:30 p.m. in the council’s chambers on the second floor of City Hall.

Adjustments discussed last week include increasing the amount for fuel for the police department, increased Medicare for retirees, a decrease in health insurance expenses, cutting the human rights budget and more. Altogether this leads to a net impact of a decrease of the tax levy, bringing the proposed tax increase down to 3.61% from the original 7.79%.

There are also three public hearings before tonight’s voting session, all in the council’s chambers. Beginning at 6:15 p.m. there will be a public hearing regarding the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report, or CAPER. A CAPER is an annual report required to be submitted by the Department of Development to the state Department of Housing and Urban Development. The report described what the DOD has accomplished using HUD funding, specifically those made with the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Program in reference to the goals stated in the fiscal year 2023 annual action plan.

A public hearing on an amendment to the Annual Action Plan 2024 is set for 6:30 p.m. The Department of Development has leftover funds in a few programs and are seeking to reallocate these funds, in the total amount of $52,722.80 to the CDBG Small Housing Repair Program.

The third public hearing of the night is set for 6:45 p.m. and focuses on the Restore NY Communities Initiative Grant Application for the Prendergast Landing Project. This is for public comment about the city applying for funds from Round Nine of Restore NY, after not receiving any in the past and having been encouraged to reapply this round by the state.

All three items are set to be voted on during the council’s work session. Also on the agenda to be voted on is a resolution regarding securing funding from Bridge NY for the Culvert Replacement Project by Minnow Creek and a resolution asking New York to increase its yearly state aid to the city.