NORWICH – The City of Norwich Common Council will come together for a special meeting tonight at 6 at the city court for two public hearings; one for the proposed 2013 city budget and the other regarding a proposed local law to override the 2 percent tax cap for the 2013 fiscal year.

The 2013 budget calls for a tax rate increase of 9.8 percent, transcending the 2 percent property tax cap enacted by New York State. If passed, residents can expect to pay $20.76 per $1,000 in property taxes, an increase of $1.86 from the 2012 budget. According to the City of Norwich Department of Finance, the average taxable assessed value for a city property owner amounts to $55,000, which means residents will pay $102.30 on average over the course of the year (equivalent to $8.53 per month).

The city faced a similar financial situation last year, when the council voted to override the 2 percent tax levy for the 2012 budget.

Increased tax rates are nothing unexpected, explained city Finance Director Bill Roberts. Over recent years, pension costs have been rising significantly for municipalities across the state and are projected to continue rising in the coming years. “It’s something that’s beyond our control,” said Roberts. “These are rates that are state regulated and there’s nothing we can do about it.”