ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- A vote that was passed by the Elmira City Council on Monday evening means property taxes are going up for Elmira property owners. Taxes for property owners will increase by 1%.

"We did our budget workshops back in November, we brought in our vote on the budget in January. So all this does is allow the Chamberlain to approve her to put out the tax warrants, which is the tax bill, and we have to send those out. It’s how we fund the government," said Elmira Mayor, Dan Mandell.

Mayor Mandell said people have two ways they can pay their property taxes. He said people can either pay it in one lump sum in May - or people can break it up by making two payments - one time in May, and one time in September.

Mayor Mandell said increasing the property taxes by 1% was the lowest he and the Elmira City Council could go.

"We try to hold the line on property taxes as much as we can, again with limited resources. We did build a $6,000,000 surplus. And we’re gonna use that surplus to help defray the property tax increase, that’s why it’s only one percent," said Mayor Mandell.

It's Mayor Mandell's hope that after the 2023 tax audit, there will be another surplus of money. The excess money would help keep property taxes low, according to Mayor Mandell.

"It’s going to help us maintain the services they’ve always had. It's going to keep our city safe so we can keep our police officers, our firefighters, the people working on the roads, ... That's what we use the money for," said Mayor Mandell.

The resolution passed with a vote of 5-1, with First District Councilman, Nick Grasso being the sole person to say 'nay.'

This resolution was number 2023-70 and sponsored by Elmira City Council Member, Joseph Duffy. To view the resolution, and the rest of Monday's (02/27/23) meeting minutes, click here.