MT. VERNON — As the state pension crisis continues to trickle down to local communities, Mt. Vernon is the latest community to get hit with a large bill from the state. City leaders are trying to figure out how to pay for a nearly half million dollar mandatory pension contribution increase for the coming year.

The current recommendation from Mt. Vernon city manager Mary Ellen Bechtel is a roughly 13 percent increase on the city’s share of a property owner’s tax bill. She says after years of cuts to the budget, there isn’t much room to cut any more without deeply affecting vital services.

Last year, the mandated state pension contribution increase was only about $63,000. The city council passed a roughly two percent tax increase to cover that bill. Mt. Vernon mayor John Lewis says the city’s retirement contribution has increased by over a million dollars the last six years. He says state leaders have to do something.

Mt. Vernon leaders would like to hear residents’ opinions on the city’s budget. You can call city hall at 242-5000 or email cityhall@mtvernon.com.