by Kristina Gabalski
The Village of Brockport’s 2012/2013 tentative budget calls for no change in the tax levy. Appropriations total $4.7 million, down from $5.17 million (projected) in the 2011/2012 budget.
During what was his last regular village board meeting before he begins his new job as director of the Greater Rochester International Airport, Village Manager/ Treasurer Michael Giardino presented the budget to trustees.
Giardino said areas with the greatest jumps in cost include health insurance -up 18 percent this year and expected to increase another 20 percent in January 2013. He noted that fuel and petroleum costs also continue to increase.
At the end of the current fiscal year, Giardino says he expects an unreserved fund balance of $365,000.
“Employee benefits make up a large portion of the budget,” Giardino said. The plan includes a three percent salary increase for both union and non-union full- time employees. The Police Department allocation is increased from $1,155,715 to $1,181,357 in the 2012/2013 tentative budget.
Also included is $15,000 for maintenance of the Smith Street Bridge and a $150,000 unallocated appropriation (contingency), Giardino said.
The budget includes no capital improvements or funding for celebrations.
A $215,000 deficit in the tentative budget “will be mitigated through use of fund balance,” Giardino said.
The water budget includes no rate increase, he said.
Mayor Connie Castaneda told the board following the presentation that the village’s revenue streams are limited.
“The largest part of our budget is employee costs – 71.8 percent,” the mayor said, and added that the only way to cut appropriations is “by the cutting of staff and limiting benefits.”
“We are making no long-term plan, the fund balance is decreasing annually,” she said. “We are still a village in fiscal distress.”
Trustee Scott Hunsinger questioned Giardino as to whether the use of $215,000 from the fund balance was “fiscally responsible.”
“It would be prudent to use no more than ten percent of the current fund balance,” Giardino responded. He noted the village will have about $1.2 million in fund balance at the end of this fiscal year.
During his report, Trustee Hunsinger said the budget is a “living document. Over the next couple of weeks I hope the issues we bring forward will be looked at non-politically.”
A public hearing on the budget is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 at the Middle School Auditorium.
