OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg will seek public input on the preliminary budget at Monday’s7 p.m. City Council meeting.

That hearing will follow another hearing that will allow Ogdensburg residents to discuss ongoing Brownfield activities as the city prepares to seek an EPA grant.

Ogdensburg councilors amended the preliminary budget Nov. 28 to a new plan that would raise property taxes by $3.58 from $17.36 to $20.94 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The previous iteration accepted by the council Nov. 14 would have raised the rate to $22.89 per $1,000.

Although the board unanimously approved the changes, the council agreed that the budget would need to be trimmed much further before it could be finalized.

The city found savings that allowed for the modification after the Ogdensburg Growth Fund forgave $200,000 in debt owed by the municipality. Other savings came from shifting sewer and water funds to offset costs of the Paterson Street project, effectively leaving more money in the general fund that could be used to offset the tax levy increase. Money was also moved from contingency funds to fire and police budget lines, because the city recently approved contracts for both departments.

The city continued its work on the spending plan at a budget workshop following the regular meeting. It is unclear if further changes will be included in the budget being presented Monday evening.