by Kristina Gabalski
Brockport Village Trustees voted to make a number of changes to the village’s $4.7 million tentative budget for fiscal year 6/1/12 – 5/31/13 during their regular meeting April 10.
The tentative budget contained a proposed tax rate of $12.28/$1,000 of assessed valuation, which is the same as last year. Village Treasurer Daniel Hendricks said $215,274 in fund balance was used, “that’s a little higher than perhaps we would like to see in order to balance the budget,” he said.
Following a public hearing on the budget, several trustees proposed amendments, all of which passed.
Police Chief Daniel Varrenti was allowed via the passage of a motion, to make a presentation on the State of the Brockport Police Department.
“If we don’t hire additional part-time officers,” Chief Varrenti said, “the Police Department will exceed the overtime budget of $90,000.”
Varrenti recommended the village spend $6,000 to hire and train four part-time police officers – three of whom would not be fully ready for duty until July 2013.
“You have a choice,” he told village board members, “you can add $6,000 to hire and train four part-time officers or add $30,000 to the overtime line and continue with the status quo.”
“This is not a savings,” Mayor Connie Castaneda said, “this is not reducing the budget, it’s adding to the budget.”
“$6,000 or $30,000?…. I like those figures and the results for taxpayers,” Trustee Carol Hannan said. “We need to plan for the future. This is the most cost effective way.”
“This is the most smart and forward thinking as I’ve seen in a while,” Trustee Scott Hunsinger said.
Mayor Castenada stated that budget revenue streams are limited. She noted that the budget for Police Department salaries alone is $1.2 million. “The whole budget is not even $5 million,” she said. “Three million dollars comes from outside sources and $2 million comes from residents. Of the $2 million collected from taxpayers, $1.2 million goes to Police Department salaries.”
Trustee Hannan pointed out that the Police Department runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. “Most people value the Police Department,” Trustee Margaret Blackman said. “I would not live in this community without a village police department.”
Trustees voted 4-1 to add $6,000 to the budget for part-time police officers. Castaneda cast the only no vote.
On two additional motions, trustees again voted 4-1 to approve, first, to hire a part-time lateral transfer police officer, and second, to sponsor three candidates through the police academy at GCC.
Mayor Castaneda cast the only no votes on both motions.
Trustee Hannan then brought forward a motion to re-instate an assistant building inspector, not to exceed a cost of $8,000 annually. The motion stated that the village’s rental registration fee would cover the cost of the position.
The motion passed 4-1, again with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Hannan next brought forward a motion to increase the hours of the Building/Zoning clerk/secretary, not to exceed 600 hours yearly or $6,500 annually, again with the cost being covered by the rental registration fee.
Hannan estimated the fee would generate $16,000-$17,000 and that the cost of both proposals would total $14,500.
The motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Margaret Blackman brought forward a motion to restore the $1,200 stipend for the village historian, with funds coming from the Shafer Trust.
The motion passed unanimously.
Trustee Blackman also brought forward a motion to put $2,500 on the expense side of the budget for the Brockport Farmers Market. She said vendor fees are expected to bring in $1,750.
The motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Blackman next brought forward a motion to hire a grant writer at an expenditure of $16,000.
The village badly needs a grant-writer, Blackman said, “There are grants we could be applying for.” She noted the village does not have the time or personnel to write grants.
“A grant writer will not fix our bottom line,” Mayor Castaneda said.
“We need to have a grant writer to ask for and receive money,” Trustee Hannan said.
The motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Finally, Trustee Blackman brought forward a motion to take $5,000 out of the $15,000 set aside in the budget for maintenance of the Smith Street Bridge to reduce the amount of fund balance needed to balance the budget.
Mayor Castaneda said it was the village’s responsibility to maintain the bridge, “It sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” she said.
The motion passed 4-1, with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Blackman noted all the amendments made would mean a 1.65 percent increase on the tax levy, “which is lower than the rate of inflation,” she said.
