Ogden budget spending up, tax rate stable

For the fourth consecutive year, residents of the Town of Ogden will have no tax increase. Although there is a 2.8 percent increase in expenditures, fund balancing and revenue adjustments have kept property taxes at a status quo.

A public hearing on the spending plan will be held on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ogden Community Center meeting room. Public input is important.

In the proposed 2003 budget, the Highway Department will absorb some services historically paid for by Monroe County. These include dead animal pickup, roadside mowing and sweeping and road striping and signage. This change is due to cutbacks in the county.

Supervisor Gay Lenhard says that in response to the community’s interest in its history, the town has added a new historian, Carol Coburn. Coburn will coordinate various projects such as finding original historical records and cataloging and organizing them. She will also provide programs and information for residents and will research ways to obtain grants for markers and signs for historical property. Coburn will receive a $5,000 stipend for this position.

In addition, the Ogden Farmers’ Library has extended its hours, has expanded its circulation and has created many new programs for all ages. Some of the programs include expanded school-age programs, story hours, book clubs for adults and other activities, such as a Halloween Party, pumpkin carving, family bingo to win a Thanksgiving dinner, a gingerbread house contest, breakfast with Santa, and several special craft projects.

The Ogden Senior Center will receive more town money this year. Traditionally the town and county together have administered the center’s nutrition program. This year, the county’s share has decreased, so the town has taken up the slack. The program offers nutritious meals to help the older person enjoy better health. Social activities are also part of the center’s program, according to town officials.

In the Public Safety Department, a full-time police officer position has been added to provide better service and reduce the necessity for overtime by existing Ogden Police Department personnel.

Lastly there is a rate increase of 9.2 percent proposed by RG&E in each of the lighting districts. Lighting districts are formed by each subdivision and the cost of the street lighting is divided among the homeowners.

Lenhard said she and Finance Director Kathleen Saville have also done some long-range planning to provide continued tax stability.

"We need to monitor the county and state activities to minimize the effect on our residents. We want to maintain the level of services that the residents expect," Saville said.

"Things (at the county and state levels) don’t look rosy. They may get worse before they get better," Lenhard said. Further, she said, the town needs to look at ways to limit residential development that will raise school taxes. She feels that an increase in the industrial base would offset (the increase in school taxes created by) housing development. "We need to strive for a good balance," she says.

Other issues that come into play are the increases in liability and health insurance for the town and its employees, upkeep and ongoing maintenance on the Community Center/Town Hall building and the need for a new highway facility in the next couple of years. The existing structure was built in the early 40s and is unsafe, according to Lenhard. These are issues, she feels, to keep in mind for long-range planning.