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UTICA, N.Y. -- Utica is back to a tax increase under two percent after their common council overrode several vetoes from Mayor Robert Palmieri.

Palmieri originally proposed a budget that would increase taxes 3.75 percent. Last week, common council members passed 27 amendments dropping that down to under two percent.

Palmieri vetoed seven of those amendments protecting, among other things, police and DPW vehicles, as well as overtime for DPW, police, and firefighters. The council voted six to zero to override those vetoes in a special meeting Friday.

"We want to make sure that we provide the services that people need, specifically when there's a snowstorm, the overtime, specifically with the police vehicles. You have to maintain the fleet that you have and that's what we're trying to do," said Palmieri.

"We hear the chief that he needs those vehicles, that he needs the vehicles, and as soon as we're able to do it, I know this council will do it," said Dave Testa, Utica Common Council Member.

The mayor said this year's budget is on the right track. It doesn't include any layoffs after massive cuts and layoffs were a part of last year's budget deal.