ROCHESTER, NY – Monroe County Executive Adam Bello on Friday presented his proposed 2025 budget, totaling $1.5 billion. That’s an increase of about 5% over the 2024 budget.

Despite the increase, the county plans to lower the tax rate once again. Bello says the plan reduces the tax rate by 9.3% (or 62 cents) to a rate of $6.03 per thousand dollars of assessed property value.

“The tax rate can go down because there are two things. One, it’s new construction and new buildings, so you’re increasing your tax base and the other, obviously, when assessments go up, tax rates can go down,” Bello said.

Bello calls the budget a responsible and responsive plan. Some of the highlights include investments in public safety, public health, child care and the historically low tax rate. Once in effect, it will be the lowest property tax rate in Monroe County history.

Bello says since he took office five years ago, the county is in its strongest financial position in more than two decades.

Most of the spending increase came from grants, payroll and benefits for county workers, and public assistance and Medicaid benefits.

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