Brockport officials present preliminary budget

Village officials presented the proposed 2005-2006 budget to residents at the April 4 board meeting. More than a dozen residents turned up to see the slide presentation and pick up copies of the proposed spending plan.

The proposal, as presented, calls for a 2.75 percent tax rate increase. The increase will mean a tax bill that will average about $21 more this year than last. Village Treasurer Ian Coyle said the exact amount of the tax bill increase would vary depending on the amount the taxpayer's assessment changed from the prior year.

The proposed tax rate, scheduled to go into effect June 1, if the budget is adopted as presented, would be $8.96 per $1,000 of assessed valuation compared to the prior year's $8.72 tax rate.

Coyle explained that the proposed budget calls for the village to contribute $62,000 to its capital reserve fund. "We can no longer rely on these reserves to pay recurring expenses," he said. Over the past four years the village's capital reserve fund has been depleted.

Also included in this year's budget are funds for a potential village manager position and a code enforcement clerk.

"We've looked at ways to streamline operation," Mayor Josephine Matela said. "A village manager position would relieve some of the processes from department heads."

The position is modeled after village administrator jobs in other municipalities. If it were approved, it's anticipated that Coyle would move into the position that carries with it a $52,000 salary. Matela said the village administrator position would incorporate the duties of the treasurer and some of the treasurer duties would be distributed among other clerks in the village office.

Resident Sharon Kehoe asked how much the taxes have gone up over the past five years. Coyle said they have risen 22 percent.

John Lessord wanted to know why the village hasn't budgeted any funds for environmental clean-up issues. "You've spent a lot in the past," he said. "It's been close to $150,000 some years, but there is nothing budgeted this year. Why?"

Matela said since the DEC was 98 percent complete with its clean up efforts in the village, it wasn't anticipated that funds would need to be set aside for that type expense. "We just don't anticipate any large outlays for environmental issues," she said.

Trustee Mort Wexler said there was a "difference of opinion" on the board regarding the budget.

"There may be a budget increase of 2.75 percent but if a taxpayer was reassessed, their total increase could top 7 percent," he said. "I have concerns here. We have to find ways to reduce taxes in the village."

Wexler also said that Brockport's per capita income was the lowest of the 10 surrounding communities. The mean average per capita, he said, is $52,641 while Brockport's is $37,068.

"We have the second highest tax rate in the area and the income of our taxpayers isn't keeping pace," he said.

Village officials have until May 1 to adopt the budget.