Town Budget Currently At 3.89% Tax Increase – Not Final Yet
by David Flint
The Stephentown Town Board has been discussing the 2016 Budget for the past several weeks. There was a public workshop on October 12 and the Board’s regular workshop meeting the following week. Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt said at the Board meeting on October 19 that the tax levy increase in the tentative budget now stands at 3.89%. [private]The numbers are not final, so it is not clear yet whether the Board will decide to override the State’s so-called “2% tax cap,” which for Stephentown this year is actually 0.9%, or about $6,000. Among the factors in play, according to Eckhardt, is an increase in health insurance costs of at least 12%. Retirement costs will be down from last year when the Town took a major hit, but should still be up considerably from previous years.
Stephentown’s tax rate per thousand of assessed value will be quite a bit lower because the Town has completed a tax revaluation so that assessments are now at full value or 100%. Last year the Town was assessing at about 31% of full value. Accordingly, the tax base has increased from $79.7 million to something over $200 million.
Eckhardt said the Board will present the Tentative Budget at a public hearing scheduled for Monday, October 26 at 7 pm. They expect to have firmer numbers regarding health insurance and other things and they are encouraging input from the public.
Phyllis DeFreest, who serves as Treasurer for the Veterans of the Stephentown Area, said that she had heard there was a debate about the Veterans requesting an increase in the Town allocation and some were questioning what the Veterans do for the Town. She wanted to clarify for the Board that although the Veterans have a certain amount set aside in savings, their bylaws specify that that money is for the future maintenance and development of the Veterans Park. It can be used for current expenses only after all other resources have been explored and exhausted. The Veterans own the Park, she said, and they have taken on the responsibility to ensure that they have the resources in the future to keep it up.
Eckhardt responded that the Board had had the same “debate” regarding the requests from each of the other Town organizations, including the Library, the Historical Society, the Seniors and the Youth Program. They asked each of them for a “blurb” as to what the organization does, what services it provides. The Town cannot by law give gifts to these organizations but it can contract with them for services provided. The Town Board is held accountable by the State Comptrollers’s Office and cannot spend without due cause.
He noted that DeFreest had provided an excellent report with justification for the Veterans’ request. The flags that the Veterans place around the town, he said, are beautiful, the Park is an asset and the Veterans provide equipment such as a stair chair and a generator to residents in need. Their parade wagon and sound system are available for use by other organizations and the Veterans also host the Christmas Tree Lighting event each year.
The Tentative Budget does show an increase in the allocation for the Veterans. The amount was $3,000 for 2015. For 2016 it is tentatively set at $3,500.
Town Park
In view of the increasing scarcity of volunteers, the Town Board is considering putting out a Request for Proposals to landscaping businesses for renovating and maintaining the little Town park at the intersection of Routes 22 and 43. The Board may also try to negotiate a discount in return for allowing the company to post a small sign indicating the designer and maintainer of the landscaping.
Eckhardt noted that the Welcome to Stephentown signs have been ordered. They will probably be ready for installation sometime next spring. Kevin Doherty of Montauk Signs has indicated that he will donate the one to be posted in the little Town park.
Snow Is Coming
The Board passed a resolution authorizing the Town Clerk to advertise for snow removal at the Transfer Station and the Town Hall. The contract period is from November 17, 2015 to October 30, 2016 and includes shoveling and salting sidewalks at the Town Hall. Bids are due to the Town Clerk by November 6.
Halloween
Library Director Laurenne Teachout reported that plans for Halloween are coming together. The spooks party will be held at the Fire Hall on Saturday, October 31 from 1 to 3:30 pm. The children in costume, and adults as well, will parade out from the Fire Hall shortly after 2 pm. “Trunk or Treaters,” those viewing the parade from their cars with trunks full of candy and treats, are asked to arrive and line up at 2 pm. There will be prizes for various categories of costumes. The kids will then be escorted safely down Grange Hall Road to the “haunted house” which will be in the big tent on the side of the Library.
Christmas Tree Lighting
Morgan Lawless announced that the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event will be at the Veterans Park on Sunday, December 13 starting at 7 pm. There will be music and singing of carols led by Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt. Refreshments and socializing will follow at the Fire Hall on Grange Hall Road.
Deposits And Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $1,125.97 to the Supervisor for the month of September. The distribution from the office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund was $865. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $11,225 for August and $8,967 for September.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $17,594.78 from the General Account and $72,536.91 from the Highway Account, including $48,108 to Gorman Brothers for materials for chipsealing Winslow, Wemple and Staples Roads.
The Board set a public hearing on the budget for Monday, October 26, its next regular workshop meeting for Monday, November 9 and its next regular meeting for Monday, 16, all meetings to start at 7 pm.[/private]