Port Jervis City Council on Dec. 22 unanimously passed a 2023 budget of $20 million, raising property tax levy by nearly 9 percent.
Residential property taxes go up by 5 percent to nearly $3.8 million, whereas taxes collected on commercial properties increase by 11 percent to $3.5 million.
Inflation is said to be responsible for the tax bump, according to interviews with Mayor Kelly Decker and several city council members.
The sewer budget also goes up by 46 percent due to a large state-mandated line repair project.
The budget passage came after multiple rounds of workshops and discussions among department heads and council members since its introduction by Decker.
On Oct. 3, Decker proposed a budget with a tax levy increase of 9 percent, which was cut to 7 percent at one point after department heads made several concessions at the council’s request….