Hamlin budget shows increase, no raises for elected officials

Hamlin budget shows increase,
no raises for elected officials

The Town of Hamlin's preliminary budget shows a total budget increase of 6.5 percent over the current year's budget, but the tax rates will reflect only a 1.78 percent increase.

Town Supervisor Dennis Roach said cutbacks, savings and increased revenues allowed the town to keep the tax rate in line even in light of an increase in the overall budget. The town's total budget for 2007 is $2,980,378, up from $2,804,959 for the current year.

Taxpayers in the town are looking at a rate increase of 1.78 percent to a tax rate of $6.28 per $1,000 of assessed value; the current rate is $6.17. "A taxpayer with a house valued at $100,000 will see an $11 increase in their tax bill for the year," Roach said.

Roach said despite a 6.5 percent increase in appropriations and because of increases in revenue, the town is only looking at a 1.7 percent tax increase. "This is a very good budget. I'm pleased with it," Roach said. "There have been sacrifices - we limited employee raises to two percent, it's way below the inflation rate. And for the second year in a row there will be no raises for the supervisor, town board or support boards."

Roach said he was also able to cut his own expenses by 38 percent by not claiming medical insurance and by reallocating some of the funds allocated for his expenses to other areas.

Roach said revenue increases were realized in some unexpended balances from the prior year's budget that will carry into 2007. The recreation department has forecast increased revenues and the court system has been active in terms of court cases and fines that have been brought into the town coffers.

The bulk of the increases in the overall budget are in the general fund and highway department funds.

The highway department budget has increased because of the purchase of a $55,000 ten-wheel dump truck with full snow plow gear. Expenditures also include a $35,000 increase in medical and dental insurance. "It's unfortunate, but there are some costs that are out of our control," he said. "On top of all of that is an increase in the cost of fuel and utilities. On the plus side, though, the highway department does a significant amount of work outside of the town and that brings in a nice amount of revenue."

Roach said town officials would like to put money into the capital account for the next few years as a way to offset hiring a firm to come and do the re-eval. "This is something that is long overdue for the town," he said. "For the first time in a long time, we are putting money into a capital reserve fund so we can begin a total reevaluation of all the properties in the town," Roach said. A total reval will cost about $150,000 and $200,000 at a rate of $70 per parcel for the approximately 3,300 parcels in the town. "We are the only town in Monroe County that is below the 90 percent assessed value that properties are supposed to be assessed at. The town is at about 49 percent valuation."

Other expenses accounted for in the budget this year is a $15,000 line item for grinding of brush. In the past the town has burned brush. "That is not a desirable way to dispose of brush, from an environmental standpoint," Roach said.

The library will also be receiving an additional $22,000 in the budget to meet the increased salaries and having a full time director on staff. "These are all things that are necessary for the library and it will be able to provide a much higher level of day-to-day service," Roach said.

The preliminary budget will be presented to the public at the town hall on October 30, at 7 p.m.

A copy of the tentative budget can be seen online at www.hamlinny.org or by calling the town clerk at 964-2421 and requesting one.