The Town of Murray budget for 2002 offers a slight decrease in taxes for taxpayers.

The budget, passed November 13, calls for a tax rate of $4.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for taxpayers outside of the Village of Holley and $2.86 for taxpayers inside the village, Supervisor Henry Lehning said. The figures reflect an .11 decrease per $1,000 of assessed valuation outside the village and a .17 decrease per $1,000 of assessed valuation inside the village.

"We were able to keep the tax rates down by changing the benefit packages offered to part-time officials and employees," he said.

Lehning said town officials were conservative in their calculations when it came to tallying sales tax figures into the budget process. "With the present state of the economy and the likelihood of there not being an increase in sales taxes, we remained conservative with our calculations."

The budget includes funds for the proposed capital project Murray is researching. They are looking to replace the town hall, currently housed in a portion of the town's highway garage, with a new 5,200 square foot facility.

The total budget figure for 2002 is $960,078; with $425,725 in the general fund and $534,353 in the highway department fund. The amount needed to be raised by taxes is $530,853.