Statement from Mayor Carmella R. Mantello on Troy Downtown BID’s Proposed Tax Levy Increase

As Mayor of the City of Troy, which is home to more than 50,000 people, we all take great pride in our vibrant and historic downtown; a true gem filled with hardworking small business owners who are the heart of our community. Their dedication, creativity, and perseverance are what make downtown Troy such a special place to live, work, and visit.

As a city, we are beholden to the New York State tax cap, which places clear limits on how much we can increase our local tax levy. There is a very thin line between what we are able to provide for our essential city services, such as, continuing our Troy Police walking-beat program, maintaining 24-hour ambulance coverage, supporting our city workforce and Quality-of-Life Action Crews, and continuing to invest millions of dollars into our city parks, streets, and playgrounds. These are not luxuries; they are necessities that protect our residents, strengthen our neighborhoods, and enhance the overall quality of life across Troy.

To be clear, we cannot jeopardize the necessary investments we have made in our city budget by breaking the tax cap. It is my duty as mayor to protect our city’s finances and ensure we continue to deliver high quality services in a fiscally responsible manner.

As your mayor, it has been and will always be my top priority to serve the interests of our entire city as a whole. Additionally, I believe the BID’s proposed plan could have been more transparent. Decisions that impact our taxpayers, residents, and business owners must always be made openly and with clear communication. Transparency builds trust, and our residents and business owners deserve nothing less.

Our goal is to see the BID survive so they can continue to host these events. The city already dedicates substantial time and financial resources to support events like Riverfest, Pride Night Out, Troy Pig Out, and others by supplying funding for stages, coordinating street closures, barricades, timely permit approvals, and the constant presence of our police officers, firefighters, and Quality-of-Life Action Crews.

We have met with the BID on multiple occasions regarding this proposal. No matter the outcome, we will continue to meet and work with the BID and all downtown stakeholders to create a sustainable plan that preserves the vitality of our city center while protecting the financial stability of the City. Our administration will continue to ensure our community remains safe, clean, and active. Our Quality-of-Life Action Crews will keep doing what they do best, maintaining our streets, supporting events, and keeping our community vibrant – just as they have since I took office.

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