Lawmakers to receive first pay raise since 1999, Mayor to get first raise in a decade
New Senior Citizen tax exemption – City Codes updated
By Andrew Harris,
The City of Hornell Common Council will meet in regular session on Monday, December 15, 2025 at 7 pm, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, at 82 Main Street.
There will be Public Hearings starting at 6:15 pm, prior to the meeting to discuss proposed:
Local Law #2 – Amend the Salaries of the Common Council and the Mayor of the City of Hornell,
The Common Council members who govern the City with the Mayor have been paid a stipend of $2300 since 1999. After twenty seven years that pay will increase to $3000 per year which Mayor Buckley called, “a bargain,” and offered some comparisons:
Town of Hornellsville – $6,390.91
Village of Canisteo – $3,108
Village of Arkport – $2,732
Village of North Hornell – $2,445
City of Hornell – $2,300
Speaking of the Mayor, that starting salary of $65,000 was approved in 2015 under Mayor Shawn Hogan and is proposed to increase to $75,000 after Finance Committee Approval. While the 13% pay hike may sound generous, the raise will bump the Mayor’s job up to 32nd highest paid employee of the City of Hornell. Read the
Local Law #3 – Amend the Senior Citizens Tax Exemption for the City of Hornell
Mayor John Buckley explains: The new program offers scaled property-tax relief based on income, ranging from a 50% exemption for seniors earning under $18,000 to 15% for those earning under $25,000. This tiered system focuses the greatest help on those with the least resources while still supporting a broader group facing higher costs. By adopting these exemptions, the Committee acknowledges seniors’ essential role in the community and provides targeted, responsible relief. This action is a great first step which reflects a proactive response to inflation and reinforces the City’s commitment to protecting vulnerable residents and strengthening community stability.
Local Law #4 – Amend the Code of the City of Hornell
Mayor Buckley explained that this change comes after he ordered a, “review the City Code in an effort to eliminate old, antiquated language and provisions that have no relevance in modern times, and more importantly, strengthen areas of need.”
That review led to updates to the city code that can be found below:
