NORWICH – The City of Norwich Common Council moved to enact the proposed 2017 budget at their meeting on Tuesday night, Nov. 15, that followed the budget's public hearing.

The $8.7 million 2017 budget highlights a 0 percent tax rate increase for City of Norwich taxpayers, as well as the first time the City will not override the 2 percent tax cap since its installation by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2011.

The budget is a $303,474 increase over last year's budget, the majority of which is funded by a $225,334 FEMA SCBA grant awarded this year.

According to a release that breaks down the newly approved budget, the City is aiming to cut spending in an effort to build up their reserves in consideration of unavoidable future investments into required equipment.

When the time came for the Council to take action in regards to either passing the budget or putting it off to their December meeting for further consideration, Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell stated that while the budget appeared to be favorable compared to year's past, some of the budget's lines did not match the original budget that the Council was presented.