The Town of Hamlin's proposed 2001 budget calls for a tax increase of one percent which would raise the tax rate from $5.55 per thousand of assessed valuation to $5.61 per thousand of assessed valuation.

According to Hamlin officials, the average homeowner would pay $3.96 more in town taxes in 2001 than in 2000. The 2000 budget brought a much larger tax increase, eight percent, meaning the average homeowner paid $24.04 more in 2000 than in 1999.

Under the proposal, most town salaries would be increased three percent in 2001. The exceptions are the supervisor, highway superintendent and code enforcement officer, who will not receive raises in 2001. The dog warden's salary was increased 20 percent, from $10,000 to $12,000 to cover additional work hours.

One item new to the budget is a fund, $2,500, for the future purchase of land.

The proposed general budget totals $1,253,278 and the highway budget, $1,134,330. General categories of expense are as follows: general government, $514,443; public safety, $78,261; ambulance, $20,000; transportation, $126,873; economic assistance, $13,140; cultural and recreation, $178,615; home and community, $107,643; library, $105,650; benefits, $105,653; and transfers, $3,000. Highway budget categories include: general repairs, $303,500; improvements and bridges, $47,360; machinery, $185,000; snow removal, $100,000; services for other government, $338,349; and benefits $160,121.

The town held a public hearing on the budget proposal on November 2. It may adopt the budget at its next regularly scheduled board meeting on November 13.