TROY – The city’s proposed $74.7 million 2020 budget unveiled Thursday by Mayor Patrick Madden will raise taxes by 3.4 percent and spending by 1.6 percent while delivering city services that residents have indicated they want during the extended this year’s campaign cycle that began in March.

The proposed 2020 budget will begin a five-year street paving program; a program to purchase a second set of turnout gear for the city’s firefighters; provide staffing and operating costs for the South Troy pool; add two positions in the parks and recreation department and one additional code enforcement officer; upgrade sidewalks; and demolish blighted buildings.

“It is in response (to) what we’re hearing from the citizens,” Madden said.

Madden is running as the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for re-election to a second four-year term. He is opposed by Green-Independence candidate Rodney Wiltshire, an enrolled Democrat and former City Council president. Republican-Conservative candidate Thomas Reale has suspended his campaign but remains on the ballot. Due to election law changes, petitioning began in March and the primaries were held in June, extending the campaigning season by months.

Madden emphasized that the budget remains fact-based and does not rely on any financial gimmicks such as budgeting for the sale of city-owned land that is never sold.

“After four years of focused efforts to stabilize Troy finances. We have established a stronger financial foundation for future growth,” Madden said. The city’s improved fiscal condition has helped attract $250 million in investment during the last four years, the mayor said.

The proposed 2020 budget of $74.7 million is up $1.2 million from the 2019 budget of $73.5 million.

“The modest increase accounts for mandated cost increases in retirement and contractual payroll increases, and makes necessary increases in our parks, code enforcement and public safety,” Madden said.

The salary increases account for $722,000, while additional pension expenses are $318,076.

The proposed tax rate increases to $14.64 per $1,000 of assessed valuation from the current rate of $14.16. A home assessed at $150,000 would have a city property tax bill of $2,196. This is a $72 annual increase. The trash fee is proposed to increase by $16 per unit to $180.

The City Council will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to accept the mayor’s budget. This will start a budget review cycle that leads to a public review on Tuesday Nov. 19 of proposed changes to the budget; the final public hearing is on Thursday Nov. 21; and the budget vote is on Tuesday Nov. 26