October 13th, 2023
From the desks at city hall...

2024 Proposed Budget

This year's budget theme is: Sustaining Our Investments

In the year ahead, sustaining investments means that we have to honor the commitments that we have already made in response to some of the biggest challenges of our time: declining infrastructure; ongoing financial stressors for vulnerable populations; an unpredictable climate; and a lack of opportunities for those who want to live in our city.

This proposed spending plan recognizes that our community looks to their local government to provide the structural support for their daily lives. This spending plan supports this powerful work by giving our teams renewed, and in many cases, ongoing, funding.

Tough choices

As proud as I am of this proposal, its creation was not easy. The 2024 Recommended Budget represents a deep and collaborative effort to understand financial forecasts, assess community needs, weigh sometimes competing priorities, and make difficult choices. It also honors a commitment to maintain the tax rate at the 2023 level, with acknowledgement that costs have increased meaning some services may be removed or be redefined.

The decisions are challenging because we’re blessed with a workforce and highly engaged community who continually generate creative and enticing ideas to make local government even better.

While the possibilities for enhancing the City are endless, funding is not.

This is certainly true as we look to 2024. The availability of budgetary resources and additional revenues are balanced by slowing sales tax revenue growth, uncertainty around overall economic conditions, and our responsibility to fulfill many existing commitments to our community.

These commitments include continued funding for programs we have operated for many years while looking ahead at the future of our city. We’re acutely aware of the importance of maintaining and, in some cases, replacing, the infrastructure that serves our community. And we must continue to support our most valuable asset – our workforce.

These commitments require us to be especially prudent in the upcoming year – and likely for the next couple of years.

We should, of course, explore new sources of funding, but we cannot simply hope that revenues increase or that taxpayers will bless us with more. We need to examine all work with a critical eye as we budget for resilience. And as we gain better insights into programmatic outcomes, we must be willing to make courageous decisions to stop programs or services that are not meeting our expectations or are no longer necessary while looking to explore new and innovative ideas.

The 2024 Recommended Budget is a step in this direction.

A decision-making framework

The 2024 Recommended Budget represents movement towards the implementation of Budgeting for Resilience, or outcome-based budgeting. As we move into to 2024, we will lean into the work that has come before us to ensure that the City of Geneva focuses on our core values of ensuring that the city is beautiful, prosperous, equitable, connected, and sustainable.

In preparing their budget proposals, departments were required to connect their work to their current work projects while looking to the future of their work. In 2024, we will focus the work projects not only on day-to-day operations but on the possibilities ahead for the city, as well as ways to measure whether the outcomes are being achieved.

Departments were also asked to look at what smart reductions can be made under the perimeters requested by council to stay within the 2023 spending rate. Through on-going discussions many items did not make into the 2024 budget as we have to be prudent with our time and resources. This doesn’t mean that our departments are asking to frivolously spend our limited resources, it means that we have to define our why before moving any project forward.

Support for community priorities

Residents rely on local government for important day-to-day services, including clean drinking water, public safety, transportation, housing, parks and outdoor spaces to enjoy, recreation facilities, and more. This recommended budget supports the basic continuation of these core services, while also seeking to address many complex issues.

Investments in employees and infrastructure

To serve community successfully, local government requires talented people and well-maintained infrastructure.

While we applied a critical eye to requests on our employee resources, the proposed budget includes an additional 2.75 FTEs to address urgent needs in the organization. Combined with a reduction of positions that were vacant or never filled in 2023 we have established new positions geared at succession planning, supporting our community, and providing safe spaces for our workers and residents. We will also continue to allocate resources for increased labor costs, as well as increased professional and leadership development opportunities.

There are also unknown investments that will need to occur with our employees through the four collective bargaining agreements set to expire in 2024. As well as a management agreement that has held management at the same levels since 2009. These variables are extremely challenging to budget for, and are necessary to ensure that we maintain a high quality workforce.

Turning to infrastructure, the 2024 Recommended Budget will make several necessary – and exciting – projects possible.

These include:

Implementation of Phase VI of the Lakefront Improvements
Castle Street Reconstruction from Brook Street to West North
Continuation of analyzing, cleaning, lining, and repairing of our sanitary and storm sewer systems through the City
Replacement of old water meters with current technology
Reviewing and upgrading our facilities to increase safety and sustainability

Realizing the Impact of Tough Decisions

As mentioned, our departmental teams were involved in many tough decisions in developing a budget that did not increase the tax burden on our residents. As we looked at spending patterns, ability to complete work, and what could be done department leaders had to decide on what we could tackle in the coming year. These decisions left behind over $17,000,000 worth of investments.

These projects are not completely lost as Departments will look to acquire resources for several projects through other means or partnerships. Some of the projects may appear in future years, when they will again be reviewed for completion within the economic parameters of the new year.

I applaud our departments for taking the time to make tough decisions while aligning their budgets with community priorities.

Looking Ahead

With this presentation of my second budget, I continue to see the possibilities ahead for our city. With our values in hand the next phase of work is to align these values under the leadership set by council through prioritizing our investments, measuring our impact, and understanding what the Geneva of 2024 and beyond will be. We have a vivid history and a bright future. As stewards of the community we must continue to make the tough decisions that will propel us forward.

Conclusion

In closing, I invite you to dive deeper into the 2024 Recommended Budget. I hope you will join me in feeling proud about the important work we have committed to, together, while also understanding the limited financial capacity the near future will hold. I am appreciative of the work of our City Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller, and all of our teams in providing stellar service to the community as we move beyond the limitations before us.

Thank you for placing your trust in me as your City Manager. It is truly an honor to serve the City of Geneva.

2024 Proposed Budget

2024 Budget Presentation

2024 Work Sessions

2024 Budget Work Session (Public Comment) will be held Wednesday, October 11th at 7pm at the Public Safety BuildingPresentation will be LIVESTEAMED via our City YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/City of Geneva, NY 

Budget Work Session dates are as follows: 

Wednesday, October 4th *Public Comment

Wednesday, October 11th 

Wednesday, October 18th

Wednesday, October 25th

Tuesday, October 31st *If needed (Adoption)

Any questions on budget process or budget please reach out to comptroller's office, 
315-789-2114.

We have a WINNER!

Meet FRANKIE Q! Our Street Sweeper - 2024 Tymco 600 Regenerative Air Sweeper.

Purpose: This vehicle is assigned to the Highway Maintenance Division.  It is used for routine street sweeping to achieve aesthetic and safety goals.  Sweeping helps keep city streets and highways clean and clear of leaves, litter and other debris that can become a safety hazard to pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicle traffic.  

Meet FLUSH GORDON! Our Sewer Cleaner - 2023 Vac-Con PD3690HN/1000 Combination Sewer Cleaner

Purpose: This vehicle is assigned to the Sewer Maintenance Division.  It is used for routine sewer utility line cleaning and jetting utilizing high-pressure water to effectively flush out dirt, debris, sludge, and any other forms of blockage from sewer pipes. Frequently shared department wide, the Vac-Con is also used to locate and safely hydro-excavate around delicate utilities without damaging them. 

Here are DPW updates from the desk of our DPW Director:

2023 City Street Tree Plantings Project:

DPW staff with support from the Geneva Shade Tree Committee is proud to announce that street trees are being planted at confirmed properties. Property owners have been notified and planting sites selections have been determined. Crews will be planting trees that have been grown and matured in the city's tree nursery. Shade Tree Committee members have nurtured trees from as small as root stock and 1 gallon size pots to now plant worthy trees. Care and watering instructions will be given to property owners. As we "grow" this program and we thank everyone that is participating in this exciting opportunity.

Replacement of Lead Water Services Project:

The 2023 Water Service Project is underway. Nardozzi Construction has started the replacement project. Notices will be given to properties at least 1 day in advance of scheduled work. Work will include water service replacement from the city water main to the property rights of way. Water will be temporarily shut off while work is performed, and street closures or detours may be implemented for everyone's safety altering travel patterns. We apologize in advance for any inconveniences this may cause and appreciate everyone's patience while the work is performed.

NYSEG Nursery - Garden - Greenhurst Gas Utility Work:

Crews continues to install new gas main and gas services on Nursery Avenue. Please expect altered traffic patterns and delays on Nursery Ave. Street restoration asphalt is planned for Thursday Oct 12 which will require a traffic detour.

Ledge Creek Development and our WZTC/flagging contractor, CP Ward, will be providing a lane shift/closure with flaggers at the intersection of Nursery Avenue and Greenhurst Street on Monday 10/9/2023. On Tuesday and Wednesday (10/10,10/11) will be lane closure with flaggers from the intersection of Greenhurst Street and Nursery Avenue to William Street and Nursery Avenue. On Thursday (10/12) will be a road closure on Nursery Avenue from William Street to Washington Street in Geneva while our crews perform gas work and restoration in the road. We will utilize a combination of the road closure TAD and “flaggers” TAD to assist with any local pedestrian or vehicular traffic that may need to enter a home/drive way in the work zone. Thru traffic will be diverted to either Norwood Avenue or Nagel Place.

Thank you for everyone's patience while these infrastructure upgrades are being completed. Work hours are expected to be 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM .

If anyone has any concerns or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Joseph Venuti, Director of Public Works office at 315-789-3101, jvenuti@geneva.ny.us or complaints@geneva.ny.us

Political Signage Reminder for all residents and candidates: 

Currently, political signs are defined as a temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election. While there are no current City-wide ordinances related to political signs, in the lakefront district, signs are:

• limited to no more than one per lot
• are located entirely on private property pursuant to the owner's consent
• are clearly marked with the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for the removal of such sign; 
• are erected no more than 45 days prior to such election; and are removed within 7 days following such election.

No sign, regardless of district, shall be maintained at any location where, by reason of its position, size, shape, content or color, it may obstruct, impair, obscure, interfere with the view of or be confused with any traffic control sign, signal or device or where it may interfere with, mislead or confuse traffic. Signs determined to be in violation will be permanently removed.

Signs located on City property will be temporarily moved for property maintenance (mowing, repairs, etc.) and replaced upon completion of maintenance. 

Theft of political signs -These signs, like any other personal property, are protected by law. Engaging in such activities as vandalism or theft is a criminal offense, potentially leading to charges of Petit Larceny or Criminal Mischief. These are both Class A Misdemeanors that could result in fines or even jail time.

For more information on where to vote, how to vote and all other items on upcoming elections. Please visit Ontario County Board of Elections webpage.
#getoutandvote

Geneva Residents:

You are invited to participate in a research study regarding the limited grocery store options available in Geneva and whether an additional grocery store would be beneficial to Geneva and its residents. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and provide feedback about the current shopping climate, and what factors positively or negatively affect your experience.

This survey is for Geneva residents only. It is completely anonymous and does not require any personal identifiable information. Your voluntary completion of the survey constitutes consent to participate.

This study is being done by a graduate student at SUNY Brockport, in the Public Administration department. This survey is completely optional and will be used for class research only.

Click here to complete the online survey

The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (FLREDC) is updating its Strategic Plan and seeking input from community members from throughout our region.

Help us understand your quality of life in the Finger Lakes Region, including what you think is working well, what needs improvement, and what is most important for the Council to consider over the next ten years.

The survey will close on October 16, 2023.

Click here to access the survey (estimated time less than five minutes)

Or type the following URL into your browser: https://forms.gle/9GwcbeRcN4TpHrC49