ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Monroe County Executive Adam Bello wants to spend $1.5 billion next year, and he says taxpayers will still see their rate drop to the lowest level ever.

Bello’s proposed 2026 budget, released Friday, would cut the county’s full value tax rate by another 36 cents to $5.67 per $1,000 of assessed value. That’s a 35% decline since 2020, even as overall spending is set to rise by nearly 2%.

The plan funnels money into public safety upgrades, including a new countywide emergency alert system, body cameras for probation officers, and a real-time dashboard for EMS dispatchers.

It also invests in mental health and family services, adding $11.2 million for daycare, expanding opioid prevention efforts, and piloting a transportation program for residents in crisis.

Bello f

See Full Page