Rate increase in store for Spencerport village taxpayers

If the Village of Spencerport budget is approved as presented, taxpayers will see a tax rate of $2.70 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The proposed tax rate is a 45 cent increase over fiscal year June 1, 2004 to May 31, 2005. The anticipated sewer user fee will be $235 annually, up $35 from the prior year. Fees for electric use will stay the same.

Mayor Ted Walker said under the proposed spending plan, taxpayers with a home assessed at $100,000 would see an increase of $45 per year over last year's tax rate.

"The money we raise from taxes only accounts for 22 percent of the overall budget revenue that we receive," Walker said.

This year, the village's proposed overall budget tops out at just over $5.7 million and includes $2,041,262 for the general fund, up $340,000 over this year's figures; $902,822 for the sewer fund; and $2,810,851 for the electric fund. The 2004-2005 general fund was $1,701,247; sewer was $850,697; and the electric, Walker said, stays constant.

"What you see in this year's budget are figures for many items that are continuing as part of our long term planning as well as the new road replacement project," Walker said.

The most significant addition to the budget, Walker said, is the streets capital upgrade program. "The upgrades that are starting on Coleman, Coolidge and Barrett streets are included in this year's budget," he said.

Continuing items include: village street maintenance, sidewalk improvements, street tree maintenance and replacement, replacing light pole banners, continuing the Pathways to the Past program, as well as community events such as Christmas on the Canal and the summer music in the gazebo series.

Built into the budget are equipment replacement line items. The village is planning to replace one six-wheel dump truck and a Bobcat. There will be small upgrades to the village office and new ceilings will be put into the restrooms. Also, at the department of public works building, Walker said water lines will be installed.

"Having water lines installed at that building was part of the water line installation agreement we made with Monroe County Water Authority and it will also be a safety protection measure for that building," he said.

As is the case with most municipalities, Spencerport is also dealing with ever increasing health insurance premiums - 30 percent this year alone.

"What we're doing to address those costs is changing our enrollment dates back to calendar year enrollments rather than fiscal year," he said. "Our employees still contribute to their health insurance plans."

New York state retirement has gone up $20,000 and salary, cost of living increases and merit raises increased by eight percent in the proposed budget. The village has also taken two part time employees and made them full time and officials are considering bringing on another new employee. The mayor's salary will increase by 3.1 percent to $6,700 annually while trustee salaries increase by 3.2 percent to $4,540.

The village looked into joining with other Monroe County municipalities in a joint worker's compensation pool but Walker said the pool is structured as a "loan fund." If an entity has a claim, they borrow from the pool then pay it back.

"With the small amount of employees we have, we thought the risk of joining the pool was very high - much too high for us to participate in the program," he said. "In order for us to benefit, we'd have to make no claims for a 10-year period."

Walker said he, the board and the department heads scrutinized all suggested capital programs and if they had merit, they were included.

Village officials say they plan to continue its energy efficient appliance rebates to the end of the year and also plan to continue street lighting replacement with more energy efficient fixtures. The electric department will also replace a large bucket truck. Walker said in the future, electric bills will come in envelopes rather than on postcards because they have to comply with the Public Service Commission on issues of confidentiality.

Walker said the village has also acquired an infrared camera that will be used for electric system maintenance as it can monitor hot spots. The camera can also be used in residents' homes to perform thermal imaging to see where a home might be losing heat.

"We looked for ways to weed out items to reduce costs but we are trying to do more street maintenance," he said. "The village is also trying to do more street maintenance in-house rather than contracting it out."

The biggest ticket items for the village are the street capital program and taking the sewer plant off line.

"Even though we don't like increasing taxes, it's something we have to do and we think our approach is the most cost effective for the taxpayers," he said. "We have a very proactive board that tries to look at items in the village and make sound decisions before spending the money."

The budget will be presented to the public on Wednesday, April 6 at 7 p.m. at the fire hall on Lyell Avenue. Walker said if there are no significant issues with the budget, it may be approved that night.