PORT JERVIS, NY — Taxes came up again at the November 23 meeting of the Port Jervis Common Council, as Mayor Kelly Decker explained the proposed budget, and clarified misconceptions. He said, “The job of mayor is to be the liaison between the council and everyone and trying to guide them. Clearly, residents are awake to the financial situation the city is in, and that has been looming for quite some time now.” A proposed tax increase of 14.4% had been introduced at a previous meeting, and Decker was referring to complaints he’d received about the large increase, with some residents calling for a state audit of the city’s books. As it turns out, however, the tax increase will be a significantly lower 8.93%.

Decker said an independent audit is done every year, and in addition the state comptroller’s office conducted its own assessment two years ago. He said, “They came and they found everything in order.”

Decker said his budget had initially been calculated incorrectly, resulting in an increase even a bit higher than the 14.4%, and he said, “I saw the need to do further cuts without causing a service catastrophe.”

Together with councilman and finance committee chair Frank Bell and clerk/treasurer Robin Waizenegger, Decker said he found more ways to cut some services without causing undue distress.

The new proposed cuts include a reduction of police dispatchers to operate seasonally, as well as delayed hiring and promotion within the police department.

The clerk’s office also faces delayed hire, and three part-time positions will be cut from the department of public works. The summer recreation program will be reduced to one instead of three parks, and the fire department faces a cut of 6.4%.

Funds to aid the ambulance corps, money to boost tourism and training for new staff also will see reductions.

The mayor’s proposal also includes adding minimal fees for West End Beach and parking. Non-union wage increases were reduced by 0.5%, and minor line items were changed within departments.

“This would bring the budget down to 8.93%. Any further cuts from here will interfere with services,” Decker added.

He said that sewer and water issues as well as a bridge project and road widening are not going to go away, and the costs will keep going up every year.

One underpass alone needs $500,000 to $1,000,000 in repairs, Decker said. “There is no regular maintenance in the budget for any of these items.”

He also said that contractual obligations for payouts on sick time, vacation, and holidays are in place, and no money is allocated for those. Contracts for both unions are up.

Council member Stan Siegel also proposed a local law related to vacant and abandoned buildings, which would bring extra revenue. He suggested doubling fines for such properties, to start from $2,400 instead of $1,200, and to go up in increments to $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000, or lesser amounts if the council so wished.

“The purpose of this is to make the landlords pay attention to the properties, giving a year or two to sweep, clean, take plywood off the windows, and make it look like the downtown looks as it’s supposed to look,” Siegel said.