FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CITY OF YONKERS ADOPTS 2022-2023 BUDGET.
Increases City Services & Provides Largest Contribution to Yonkers Public Schools; Stays Below State-Mandated Property Tax Cap.
YONKERS, NY – May 25, 2022 -- Following weeks of budget hearings, the City of Yonkers 2022-2023 Budget was adopted today with a 6-1 bipartisan vote by the Yonkers City Council. The Adopted Budget increases funding for public safety and quality of life services including additional police officers, firefighters, parks maintenance staff and continues to provide its largest contribution to Yonkers Public Schools and is below the state-mandated property tax cap.
The 2023 Adopted Budget increases the Maintenance of Effort to the School District budget by $7.7M, bringing the total transfer to education to $288 million -- making it the largest amount ever budgeted by the city and the largest local share of any big city to a district outside of New York City.
Mayor Spano stated, “Yonkers, now the third largest city in New York State, weathered the effects of a global pandemic better than expected largely due to the city’s uniquely diverse workforce; its growing population because of its booming economic development; increased e-commerce sales; and direct federal stimulus aid to residents.”
“Thanks to the cooperative work with our City Council, we are improving quality services for our residents, relieving our taxpayers as best as we can and making the vital investments in education so we can keep moving Yonkers forward,” Mayor Spano added.
“It was a pleasure to work with the entire City Council, as well as the Budget and Finance team to review, compromise and adopt a sound Budget proposed by our Mayor that enhances the City of Yonkers as well as reflects the forward growth and prosperity of our great City!” commented Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy.
“As Education Chair for the City of Yonkers, we passed the budget and included in this budget is the most robust contribution to the Yonkers Public Schools,” said Yonkers Council Majority Leader Tasha Diaz. “The city increased the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and ensured that the $3 million budget gap was closed. My goal was to ensure that Yonkers Public Schools was funded in a way that meets the needs of the students and families we serve without placing all the burden on the taxpayers.”
Yonkers Council Minority Leader Mike Breen said, “While no budget is ever perfect, I was proud to support a budget that kept the wallet of the taxpayer in mind. A 1.25% tax rate increase will raise the average homeowner’s bill by $10 per month. Additionally, the City Council was able to provide record aid to the Yonkers Public Schools by giving more funding to the district than was initially requested by the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools. It has always been a priority for the City Council to give the Yonkers Public Schools the funding they need to give our students every advantage and this is another step in that direction. Creating efficiencies while including additional positions will help ensure that our parks are clean, our roads are maintained and our aging infrastructure gets the attention it requires. This budget continues to provide the services our City residents expect and deserve while keeping any tax increases to a minimum.”
Budget Snapshot:
• $1.38 billion total budget
• 1.25% tax increase; below the state-mandated property tax cap
• Includes record increase in Maintenance of Effort contribution to Yonkers Board of Education of $7.7M
• 42 new city positions to support public safety and quality of life, including:
o 10 new Police Officers
o 1 new Fire Captain, 2 new firefighters in Fire Prevention
o New 5 person Parks Maintenance Crew
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