Bello: Monroe County working to fill void left by federal and state funding cuts, still plans to lower taxes

Bello: Monroe County working to fill void left by federal and state funding cuts, still plans to lower taxes By News10NBC Monroe County Executive Adam Bello (WHEC file photo) ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Monroe County Executive Adam Bello says the county is working to fill the void left by federal and state funding cuts from some programs, but still plans to lower taxes next year. He announced the county’s budget proposal for next year at a news conference on Tuesday. Bello said the proposal would lower the property tax rate for the seventh year in a row. The new rate would be $5.42 per $1,000 of assessed value, 25 cents lower than this year’s rate. Bello said this comes at a time when many families are struggling with inflation and high prices for gas and other essentials. “Families across Monroe County don’t need me to tell you that everything costs more. You see it when you buy groceries. You see it when you pay your utility bill, when your car insurance renews. When you fill up your gas tank,” he said. “For a lot of families, there’s not much left at the end of the month.” Bello said the county is facing much of the same economic challenges, including paying more for health insurance, employee pensions, fuel, and construction materials. He also said counties are facing the pressure of “unfunded mandates” from the state and federal government. “Here’s the difference: when our costs go up, we have a choice about how we respond. We can simply pass these increases along to taxpayers, or we can take a hard look at our own spending,” he said. This year’s county budget included measures to lower property taxes, boost public safety funds, improve public health services, and expand access to childcare. The Monroe County Legislature approved the more than $1.56 billion budget in a 27-2 vote .