Most roads lead to the budget for Monday’s city council work session.

Beginning at 6 p.m. a public hearing is scheduled to hear input from the Jamestown community in regards to the proposed local law authorizing a property tax levy increase in excess of the limit of 2%. The public hearing will be held on the fourth floor of the city building, 200 East Third Street, in the Police Training Room.

The proposed tax levy increase of 7.79% means an increase of $1.82 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to the city’s tax rate from $23.35 per $1,000 to $25.17 per $1,000. The 2025 budget proposal totals $43,315,323. Mayor Kim Ecklund said pension system payments are projected to increase $580,000, health care costs are projected to increase $827,000, stop loss insurance claims are increasing and retiree Medicare Advantage costs that weren’t included in the 2024 budget will cost an additional $018,000. There are also unknown costs as contracts with the police and fire departments, as well as CSEA employees, conclude in December. The budget includes no capital spending except for CHIPS road projects, with salaries and benefits comprising 76% of the budget.

The city came into the year with $7,682,845 in its unassigned fund balance. Resolving the 2024 shortfall, plus the $700,000 Ecklund proposes using in the 2025 budget, leaves the city with a little more than $4.5 million in its fund balance going into 2025. Ecklund said she expects the 2023 audit, which is nearing completion, to show at best a break-even 2023 that won’t result in additional money flowing into the fund balance.

Following the public hearing regarding the tax cap override, council members will begin budget talks at 6:15 p.m. for the Development Department and Fenton History Center. The presentations will go until 7:30 p.m. when the regular work session takes place.

There is only one resolution on the agenda for Monday night’s work session. This resolution comes from the finance department, focusing on applying for grant funding through the Round Nine RESTORE NY Communities Initiative Municipal Grant Program for the Prendergast Landing Project. Funding would help a long-discussed project in the former Joyce’s Keg Room building.

Rahsann Graham, founder of Jade Empire LLC, bought the former Joyce’s Keg Room building in 2020 and wants to turn the 12,00 square foot building into a family-friendly destination that will have water sports rentals, office space, vacation rentals and other rental sales. The project budget had been listed as between $2.4 and $2.6 million, but could be higher as inflation drives up construction costs. The project has received a state grant through the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. and tax breaks from the county Industrial Development Agency.

The first floor of the Prendergast Landing will be shops while the second floor will be shared office space. The third and fourth floors will be short-term housing units and the bottom floor is projected to be a kayak rental business.

Incubator funding could be used for work on the first two floors. Graham said the storefront will be available for artisans or food vendors who have outgrown farmer’s markets but aren’t big enough yet for their own storefront. There will be a kitchen available for small sandwiches or salads and a coffee bar.

The second floor will be shared office space that could be used by those working from home who need a work space outside the home or for small companies that need office space but can’t absorb the cost for a long-term lease in a bigger office building.

Besides areas for general discussion the only other item noted on the agenda is a note about the upcoming Veterans Day Service to be held in the city on Nov 11 at the corner of Third Street and Main Street.