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ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Mayor of Ithaca released his 2013 budget proposal. Svante Myrick announced his proposal on Wednesday to close the budget gap, using what he calls "strategic budgeting."

The proposal calls for a 2.72 percent tax increase and some cutbacks, as well as the consolidating of several city departments to streamline services. Layoffs will be minimal, but the plan does call for the creation of three new city positions, which include a parking director, grant writer, and a chief of staff for the new mayor.

"We added these positions, some of them because we think they will actually bring in revenue in the long run. And some of them because we know they're going to increase our performance over the long run. This is something the council was pretty clear about, and the public was pretty clear about. Just because you're facing cutbacks, doesn't mean you can stop improving in some areas," explained Mayor Myrick.

The Common Council has one month to approve the budget. The entire proposal can be viewed on the city of Ithaca's website.