Brockport tentative budget released

Brockport tentative budget released

Taxpayers in the Village of Brockport could be faced with an almost 12 percent tax rate increase, according to tentative budget figures. Village Manager Ian Coyle released information showing the general fund budget calls for a property tax increase of 11.38 percent, which in turn will raise the tax rate to $9.98 per $1,000 of assessed value. The figure is an increase of $1.02 per $1,000. The current tax rate is $8.96 per $1,000.

Coyle said the tentative proposed budget is still in deliberations. "This is the best product I could have presented to the public, given the numerous fiscal constraints burdening the village including rising health insurance, retirement, litigation and commodity costs," he said. "That being said, these figures are tentative, and there is still room for further analysis and changes from the village board."

The village has until May 1 to formally adopt its spending plan for 2006-2007.

When asked how the village would cope if changes to sales tax revenue distribution was reduced by Monroe County - Coyle said, "For now, I am figuring optimistically, and I think realistically, that cooler heads will prevail and that this idea won't fly because it can't fly. It would be financially disastrous to local municipalities, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by County Legislator Wayne Zyra after he proposed it. We have called, as have numerous other municipalities vouching for no changes to sales tax distribution.

In his budget message Coyle wrote that the tax increase proposed is substantial. "It could, and perhaps, should be even higher," he said. "The underlying fiscal question is 'what level of service do the residents of this village want and at what price?' "

If the village continues to provide services at the level to which the residents have become accustomed, there will likely need to be "substantial structural changes" made from a financial perspective, he said.

Coyle said he was certain further cuts would be looked at. "If you look at the budget finances as a scale, it's weighted toward the service cost with our tax rate of $8.96 not being sufficient to fund our services - more specifically their costs," he said.

According to Coyle, increasing the tax rate or more closely examining levels of services and the expenditures that go along with them are options the board may consider. "There is an 11 percent increase that could be as high as 20 percent if not for a one shot revenue of a property sale," he said. "We won't have that revenue next year so what do we do? It's a recurring issue that the board needs to examine and analyze in the budget process."

Input from department heads and individual meetings with board members during the process helped Coyle compile the tentative budget. "Unfortunately, it's one that requires a substantial increase," he said.

Coyle said, on March 23, Trustees Carrie Maziarz and David Wagenhauser had come to him with alternatives and additional places to shave costs. "We're still working on it and hope to get the tax rate even lower," Coyle said.

The village is at a financial crossroads, Coyle said. "It's imperative that the often times difficult budget quests are addressed and analyzed."

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Monday, April 13 at 7 p.m. following the regular board meeting. The hearing will be at the Village Hall.