by Kristina Gabalski
Brockport Mayor Connie Castaneda has submitted her preliminary 2013/2014 village budget.
During the regular meeting of the Village Board March 26, the mayor said a budget workshop was held with department heads to obtain their input for the needs of their departments and trustees have had two budget workshops to discuss the budget.
“I’ve taken all this information into consideration regarding a budget for the Village of Brockport,” the mayor said.
“My goal was to comply with the tax cap regulations. In order to do that, we reduced the budget by a little over $400,000. The tax levy shows a reduction of $40,000 from the current year and meets the tax cap.”
Her preliminary budget includes a tax rate decrease of 2.9 percent, the mayor said – from $12.08/$1,000 assessed valuation to $11.73.
Village Treasurer Dan Hendricks presented a budget update to trustees during the meeting which included requests for $115,000 in additional budget items as well as proposed budget reductions. Those reductions include the delay of the purchase of a dump truck and backhoe for the Department of Public Works as well as reductions in the amount budgeted for fencing at parks and an addition to the records room. The proposed reductions cut a number of items requested by the Police Department including ammunition, lightbar, FCC compatible radios, carbon monoxide detectors, stop sticks and tint meters.
During his report, Police Chief Daniel Varrenti said the concern of the Police Department is public safety and noted gasoline, healthcare and pension costs are, “going through the roof.” He suggested that taxpayers might not be opposed to keeping the tax rate flat or increasing it by one percent.
“People would be graciously happy with that,” he said.
The Village Board will hold another budget workshop April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall. A public hearing on the 2013-2014 budget is set for Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Oliver Middle School L.G.I. The Village Board will adopt the budget April 23.
“I encourage folks to come out,” for the upcoming meetings, the mayor told the Suburban News and The Hamlin Clarkson Herald.
Also during the March 26 meeting, trustees adopted a local law to override the tax levy limit.
Trustee Kent Blair emphasized the measure was adopted “just in case” and Trustee Carol Hannan noted the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) has recommended that municipalities adopt the law, “… in the event there is an error in the mathematics which technically puts (the levy) over the limits and prevents penalties from New York State.”
The vote on the tax levy override was 4-1 in favor with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
During a public hearing on the override before the vote, one person spoke.
Resident Ken Rombaut said the village no longer runs the Fire Department and taxes should be lowered accordingly.
“I can’t understand how the village can even consider going over the two percent,” he told the Board. “I can’t afford to keep paying village taxes.”
