About the Department of Finance

The Department of Finance manages the City's financial affairs. It collects revenues, manages and invests cash, manages City debt, and controls financial processing. Its responsibilities include managing payroll, purchasing, assessment operations, maintaining financial records and reports, and enforcing financial policies and standards.

The Department is composed of six units: the Director's Office, Accounting, Treasury, Assessment, Parking and Municipal Violations, and Purchasing.

The hours for all units except Parking are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, when City Hall is open. The hours for the Parking Bureau are listed below.

Downtown parking is available at several locations near City Hall, 30 Church St. (map)

Director's Office (585) 428-7151, City Hall Room 109A

  • Manages the Department of Finance.
  • Supervises the City's debt and risk management activities.
  • Administers and enforces Federal and New York State labor standards in construction projects.
  • Monitors Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) contract compliance for prime contractors and wage compliance for both prime and sub-contractors.
  • Provides central planning, programming, and development services to the bureaus of the Department.

Accounting (585) 428-7139, City Hall Room 106A

  • Reviews, processes and maintains records of City financial transactions.
  • Provides information on the City's financial position.
  • Processes payrolls.
  • Oversees the fiscal component of Federal and New York State grant programs.
  • Prepares the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

Treasury (585) 428-6940 (Tax Info Line), City Hall Room 100A

  • Collects all monies owed to the City, including taxes and water bills. 
  • Maintains care and custody, including investment responsibility, of all resources of the City and the City School District.
  • Disburses funds according to policies and regulations.
  • Meters and posts U.S. Mail and provides messenger services to City departments.
  • Automatic payment of taxes or water bill through Direct-Pay.
  • Look up and/or pay property taxes, water bills, or parking tickets through the Online Service Center.

Assessment (585) 428-7221, City Hall Room 101A

  • Determines the market value of every property in the City through on-site visits and recording of pertinent data.
  • Monitors recent property transfers, neighborhood and economic conditions, financing, legal restrictions and environmental issues as they pertain to City properties.
  • Provides the public with data on property ownership, tax exemption programs, legal deadlines and sales information.
  • Processes tax exemption applications, deeds of transfer, assessment changes and letters of notice.
  • More information about Assessment

Bureau of Parking, 80 Commercial St.

Hours for Bureau of Parking sub-divisions:

  • Parking and Municipal Violations Bureau:  8:30 a.m. to 4:45 pm.
  • Parking Administration: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The hours for City-owned parking garages can be found here.
  • The Off Street Division is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, closed on weekends and holidays. The mailing address is 80 Commercial St., Rochester, NY 14614. The main phone number is (585) 428-6925. 

The Bureau of Parking was formed July 2009 as a consolidation of municipal parking functions that were in the former Department of Economic Development; the Departments of Environmental Services, Finance and Police.

  • The Bureau of Parking and Municipal Violations (585) 428-7484 enforces parking, dog control, and other provisions of the Municipal Code.
  • Collects fines, state surcharges and state scofflaw clearance fees. 
  • Conducts an administrative adjudication system that provides hearings for those contesting summonses or who fail to pay fines within a specified period.
  • Prepares a civil judgment roll for judicial certification, administers contracts with commercial collection agencies.
  • Certifies scofflaws to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
  • Look up and/or pay parking tickets through the Online Service Center.
  • Hearings: Learn more about the adjudication of parking and municipal code violations.

Purchasing (585) 428-7041, City Hall Room 105A

  • Purchases or leases all material, supplies, equipment, and contract services necessary for the City to perform its tasks.
  • Writes specifications for items to be purchased.
  • Obtains written and verbal quotes from vendors.
  • Solicits, analyzes and awards bids.
  • Issues contracts and purchase orders.
  • Ensures that contractors employed by the City comply with Federal and New York State labor standards and all applicable legal requirements.
  • Provides central duplicating and office supply services to City departments.
  • Disposes of surplus property.
  • More information about Purchasing.