Can it get any worse? Yes, it can and will get worse. There are less people and thus less tax revenue.

The city will lose roughly $661,000 in water trust revenue, Budget Director Peter Fiorillo said. It used that much in the 2012-13 budget but doesn’t expect to use more next year.

Pension and health care costs – which rose $2.2 million last year – are expected to rise again next year.

The city is locked into more than $70 million in general fund debt obligations, and the biggest chunk of its budget — employee costs — are directly tied to the services the city provides.

via Utica’s next budget could be as tough as this year’s – Utica, NY – The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York.

Raising taxes will only work so much. Utica needs to find a way to increase jobs and get people to stay in the city.