City of Rochester eyes $47.6M budget gap, seeks public input

Mayor Lovely Warren is seeking public input as she looks to close a $47.6 million city budget gap in the year ahead.

The shortfall is among the largest Warren has faced, second only to a $50-million gap to begin the current fiscal year. The city's budget year runs July 1 through June 31.

An online budget survey opened Tuesday on the city website, is asking respondents about development preferences (residential or business, housing and business type), about support for a new noontime concert series at Midtown and for other existing city-sponsored events, about interest in 311, in Fire Department courses, and if and how people used library computers.

Residents can weigh in Monday as Warren hosts a community input session from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall, 30 Church St. Topics are expected to include riverfront projects, community policing and quality of life issues including demolitions of vacant and abandoned properties.

Warren is scheduled to release her 2019-19 budget proposal on May 18.

The city's annual and sizable budget shortfalls are attributable to various factors, including retirement and employee benefit expenses and capital needs. State funding through the annual Aid and Incentives to Municipalities has remained flat at $88.2 million since 2011-12.

Previous city budget gaps

2018-19 $47.6 million

2017-18 $50 million

2016-17 $41.2 million

2015-16 $34.8 million

2014-15 $37.5 million

2013-14 $42.7 million

2012-13 $24.8 million (with one-time spin-up)

2011-12 $50 million

BDSHARP@Gannett.com