NORWICH – Eleventh-hour changes to the proposed City of Norwich general fund budget were ratified in a 5-1 vote by the Common Council on Tuesday, resulting in a final 6.53 percent tax increase for city residents in 2015.

In addition to unanimous approval to override the state mandated property tax cap, the Council passed modifications to the city’s financial plan based on reasons that officials say are essential for providing services to city residents, namely through the Department of Public Works which would have cut two positions had the original budget been adopted.

Changes to line accounts for the City DPW include less money for equipment and contracted services, but more for services such as snow and ice removal, sidewalk maintenance, parks maintenance, and street cleaning. The result is a $33,000 increase over the $8.42 million budget originally put forward. The average taxpayer with a $55,000 property can now expect to pay a total increase of $72.6 per year, or $6.05 per month. Ward One Alderman Bryan McCracken was the only Council member who voted against the modified budget.

According to Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson, the increase will allow the DPW to maintain staff that is essential for street and equipment maintenance. The department has been running tight on staff for the last four years, he said, which has been particularly problematic when employees are out on workers’ compensation.