ELMIRA, N.Y> -- Elmira City Manager John Burin says the main goal of the 2009 proposed budget is to provide taxpayers with the same services at last year and at a reasonable cost.

"It was difficult. It's getting harder and harder," Burin said.

Taxpayers can expect to pay a 2.8 percent tax rate increase to support the city's biggest expense, the police department, and to keep the city's employment rate the same. That increase equals $25 for a $50,000 home.

"We ended 2007 with a surplus and our goal is to continue to grow that surplus,” said Elmira City Mayor John Tonello. “We have to continue to provide the basic services, police, fire, roads, basic things people see outside their windows."

Mayor Tonello says the bad economy has led to cutbacks in Albany that have trickled down to the local level, making it hard to keep taxes down.

"There's not a lot we can do right now. There is a lot going on at the state and federal level," Tonello said.

And then there's the Mark Twain Golf Course. Some may say holding onto it this long without selling it may be irresponsible, but Burin says now was not a good time to sell it.

"I don't believe we should be in the golf course business. I have mixed feelings about it, but from a business point of view, it's the right thing to do it hold on to it for one more year and move forward with a sale in 2010," Burin said.

As city officials look to the future, taxpayers face the everyday challenge of staying afloat with growing expenses.

City leaders say they hope the pending sale of the old post office on Church Street will add some revenue to the city.