The Canandaigua City Council has approved amendments to the proposed 2026 budget, slightly lowering the tax levy and adjusting funding within the spending plan.
During two work sessions, the Council cut $40,000 from the fire department’s overtime account, removed a planned wage increase for Council members, and added $1,300 to the city’s contract with the Ontario County Historical Society. These changes reduced the tax levy by $621.
City Manager John Goodwin’s original levy proposal was $8,156,696, up from $7,415,178 in 2025. With amendments, the levy stands at $8,156,075. The tax rate will rise from $6.41 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2025 to $6.9939 in 2026, an 8.96% increase. Total appropriations for 2026 are $22.46 million, a 4.48% increase over 2025.
Residents should also expect higher water and sewer bills next year:
- Water: $5.71 → $6.33 per 1,000 gallons; minimum quarterly bill $64 → $71
- Sewer: $6.42 → $7.32 per 1,000 gallons; minimum quarterly bill $72 → $82
The Council approved the amendments 7–1, with Mayor Bob Palumbo opposed and Councilor-at-Large Sim Covington Jr. absent. The final vote on the 2026 budget is scheduled for Dec. 15.
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