SALAMANCA — The Common Council was expected to vote Wednesday on the finalized city budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year with a 2% tax rate increase and a $250,000 decrease in spending.

The council held a public hearing Feb. 18 on the $12.76 million spending plan that calls for raising about $964,000 in taxes for the fiscal year beginning April 1. The 2026-27 tax levy is about $4,000 less than the current budget and carries a tax rate of $67.03 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The council approved the tentative budget at its previous meeting Feb. 11.

Only one city employee and two members of the public attended the public hearing. Of the council, only its president, Kylee Johnson of Ward 2, was absent.

In an effort to lower the upcoming budget, the city council decided that no new vehicles would be purchased for any department this year after some department heads had asked for vehicles in their wish-list budgets. If a new vehicle is needed during the year, the city would look to bond for it.

When asked about an increase in rental of real property revenues, Councilman Mike Reed said the city is currently renting out a storefront in the former Weist Insurance Building at 123 Main St. and is looking to rent the apartment above the Salamanca Area Senior Center at 18-20 Main St.

Also in revenues, a $500,000 Department of Justice New Recruits grant will allow the city to hire four new officers for the police department and pay their wages for three years, said Councilman Paul Myers.

The council also decided to not hold the annual citywide cleanup in the next fiscal year, citing concerns with scavengers spreading piles into a larger mess; some properties taking advantage of the program by saving their garbage throughout the year and getting rid of it all for a minimal price; and that the city regularly takes a loss between $25,000 and $30,000 between what residents pay to participate and how much the refuse company charges.

Council members said they are looking at other options, such as collecting only scrap metal items and utilizing the Department of Public Works yard as a secure drop-off zone.

Regarding the purchase of various properties by the city, Mayor Sandra Magiera said they’re paid for from an economic development fund separate from the general fund. She said there is about $4 million in that fund, which came from casino funding.

Meanwhile, the mayor said two companies are working on options for the city-owned property on State Park Avenue. She said in a recent meeting, the city was informed that about 75 acres of it is developable.

“It’s been many years and many people looking into it, a lot of studies done, a lot of money spent,” she said. “It’s time something was done with it.”

The budget also includes some new positions, including a new Community Engagement & Operations Coordinator and an animal control officer. Reed said New York state requires the city to hire an animal control officer and oversee all the upgrades the city must implement for sheltering dogs.

Blight removal is also down in this budget. Magiera said there were no properties that needed structures taken down in the latest round of foreclosures, and three properties the city took over previously had their houses taken down during the current year.

According to the city charter, the Common Council must adopt a tentative budget on or before Feb. 15, conduct a public hearing on such tentative budget on or before Feb. 24 and adopt a final budget on or before March 1. The final budget is expected to be adopted at the beginning of next Wednesday’s meeting.