For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
City Council Passes Amended City Budget,
Opposes Rochester City School District Budget
At tonight’s Council Meeting, the Rochester City Council amended and passed the
City of Rochester’s FY 2020-21 Budget, in a vote of 8-1 with Councilmember Mary
Lupien voting in opposition.
The Budget amendments transfer funds to be used for police overtime related to
Special Events into the Bureau of Recreation. This will mitigate personnel
impacts previously proposed and maintain a defined career ladder for our
Recreation staff. Additionally, the Council amended the Rochester Police Department
Budget, reducing the incoming police recruit class by 50% and transferring
$750,000 resulting from this reduction to Contingency. These funds will be
set aside to support the work of a Task Force put together by the
Administration that will look to re-imagine policing in our community.
The Council voted in opposition to the Rochester City School District FY
2020-21 Budget. The Council voted 1-7-1 with Councilmember Malik Evans voting
in favor and Councilmember LaShay Harris abstaining from the vote as an
employee of the District. According to the City Charter, if the City Council
does not approve the School District Budget, the version as submitted to the
Mayor and Council will become the District’s Budget for the ensuing fiscal
year.
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Media Contact: BJ Scanlon 716-307-6869