Saying the city shouldn't try to circumvent the state's new tax cap law, Lockport alderman Jack Smith sounded off this week on a budget that will increase the tax levy about nine percent.

Smith sent an e-mail to WLVL that included a number of suggestions for trimming the budget, including removing funding for the Lockport concert series and removing community police aid.

The council will vote a local law tonight that will allow the city to override the new state tax cap, which it must do before voting on the budget.

Others on the council say the tax rate won't go up, and no services were cut, and some have also questioned Smith's timing, saying he could have presented these ideas earlier in the budget process.