ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- On Friday, November 15th Elmira City Manager Michael Collins presented the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025. Property owners are looking at a 5.3% property tax increase. 

The city's operating budget is projected to be over $41 million dollars. According to Collins, that's an increase of just shy of $3 million dollars from 2024. 

For the average home in the City of Elmira valued at $100,000, owners are looking at paying around $150 more a year, or about $12.50 per month. City officials say the increase is needed to keep up with rising health insurance costs and to make sure salaries for police officers stay competitive with other departments.

"Inflation affects all of us," says Collins. "Health insurance, unfortunately, is going to be raised. We're going to be paying over a million dollars. Wages certainly are a significant part of an increase. For employees, we're bound under union contracts and we abide by those contracts."

The City of Elmira is also planning to use $3.5 million from the city's general fund to help reduce the impact on taxpayer dollars. City Council will vote to approve the budget in January.