Former Cortland County Democratic Party Chair and former Election Commissioner William Wood was the lone speaker at last night’s city budget hearing.
 

Wood was critical of the proposed 2013 spending plan; he feels city officials did not look hard enough to find reductions in spending. Wood said the assertion that taxes are only going up 1% is not the philosophy he wants the city to adopt.
 

Wood says unless taxes are brought under control the community will continue to stagnate as people and businesses move to other areas with a lower tax burdens.
 

Alderman Katie Silliman rejected Woods assertion that the council did not take a thorough look at spending, she says most people recognize that the cost of providing city services has gotten more expensive.
 

The revised budget calls for $18.4 million in spending next year which is $212 thousand less than the current budget, or a 1% cut in spending over the current year.

 

If the budget is approved, property taxes will go up just over 1% next year,  that equates to $15.28 per $1000 in taxable assessed value. city leaders are expected to adopt the final budget later this month.