Utica common council passes budget, police reform

The Utica common council unanimously passed the city budget and police reform mandated by Governor Cuomo

City budget.

And good news for tax payers, this year's budget does not include a tax hike.

Council members unanimously approved the nearly 73 million dollar spending plan but not before making some tough decisions.

Major capital purchases have been reduced and a large number of part time city employees have been eliminated.

Over all the council feels this is a good move for the city.

"i'd like to thank everybody for all their hard work to keep the budget down to zero for our tax payers.

They need it most during this age of covid and i appreciate everybody trying to keep our budget down."

The council also taking action tonight on the city's police reform plan.

That too was passed with unanimous approval.

Some members of the public did bring into question a few of the plans proposals.

One in particular being the placement of cameras in the vicinity of oneida square to deter crime there.

"you give me a better solution in terms of how to deal with oneida square and the illegal activities we're having with those corner stores.

If we don't put cameras down there in order to be able to provide greater accountability, cameras don't only look at the crime they look at the officers as well.

This notion that more cameras in the community will be over policing of black and brown people, as if the cameras just shut off when the police are present, is a false dichotomy and something we have to ward against."

The police reform was mandated across the state by governor cuomo.

The deadline for the reform is april first.

Time for a first look at the forecast..

Here's chief