By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg councilors amended the preliminary budget Monday to a new plan that would raise property taxes by $3.58 from $17.36 to $20.94 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The previous iteration accepted by the council Nov. 14 would have raised the rate to $22.89 per $1,000.

Although the board unanimously approved the changes, the council agreed that the budget would need to be trimmed much further before it could be finalized.

The city found savings that allowed for the modification after the Ogdensburg Growth Fund forgave $200,000 in debt owed by the municipality. Other savings came from shifting sewer and water funds to offset costs of the Paterson Street project, effectively leaving more money in the general fund that could be used to offset the tax levy increase. Money was also moved from contingency funds to fire and police budget lines, because the city recently approved contracts for both departments.

Most vocal about the need reduce the tax levy were Deputy Mayor Michael Morley and Mayor Wayne Ashley. Both supported a call for an immediate hiring freeze, which failed in a 5-2 vote.

Morley said personnel is an area that could save the city a substantial amount of money because of all the line items it affects.

Morley said the council is looking at hiring three officers in the near future and is also looking to fill a sewer worker position. He estimated the cost at about $200,000.

City Manager Sarah Purdy pointed out that officer hires would be necessary if the city intends to make good on its $150,000 contract to provide security at the airport. She said not filling those positions would result in $150,000 in revenue. Councilor Brian Mitchell said that the contract would effectively pay for the cost of the officers.

His call for a hiring freeze was vocally shot down by councilors Jennifer Stevenson and David Price. Stevenson agreed that the city should be careful about filling positions, but said a blanket freeze would require acceptations. She said hires should be decided upon in a case-by-case basis.

Price said he also sees the benefit in employing people who shop and put money back into the community. He said everyone benefits when someone has a good job. He said the city employees put money back into the local economy.

“Cutting people is not where we need to save money,” he said.

But Morley said that’s exactly where the city should be looking to cut.

“If you aren’t going to lay anyone off and you aren’t going to eliminate jobs then how are going to save money,” he said.

Morley also suggest cutting in the recreation department, since it is not a service the city is required to provide. He said the Lockwood Arena and city pool lose money as do many of the camps and activities provided by the city.

“City recreation is not an obligation,” he said.

Morley said that non-mandatory departments that are losing money need to be looked at.

“If they are losers we need to get rid of them,” he said.

The city continued its work on the spending plan at a budget workshop following the regular meeting.