For Immediate Release: May 21, 2020
City of Utica Update
In light of the projected fiscal impact of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), and after careful examination of the City’s FY 2020-2021 Budget, Mayor Robert Palmieri has taken the following actions:
- Reduction of spending in daily operations
- A 75% decrease in capital purchases of what was originally budgeted (prior to the Coronavirus outbreak)
- Coordination with Comptroller Morehouse to consider deferring payments of certain 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022, an option recently approved through the federal CARES Act
- Institution of a hiring freeze for all vacant positions
- Temporary elimination of over 80% of part-time employees
- Reduction of non-essential overtime
- Reduction in salary of several part-time employees
- Seeking voluntary furlough for certain full-time positions
- Issuance of an early retirement incentive program for CSEA members and non-union employees
In addition, the City Comptroller’s Office, in conjunction with the Solid Waste Authority, extended the deadline for payment of FY 2020-2021 city and solid waste bills u