Proposed town budget subject of board review

RHINEBECK >> Town Board members will meet Monday to review a proposed $3.66 million 2017 budget that would decrease spending by $34,390, a 0.93 percent decline.

The session is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 80 E. Market St.

The budget would authorize a $2.22 million property tax levy, which would be unchanged from the current spending plan.

Information was not immediately available on the town’s tax levy limit. The total levy, which includes special districts that do not include all properties, is proposed at $2.7 million for a 1.57 percent increase of $41,836.

“What’s driving this budget is staying within the tax cap and trying to provide the services that we need to provide,” Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia said. “I proposed hiring additional staff in the code enforcement, zoning enforcement office, but I don’t know if the Town Board is on top of that. We only have somebody for 20 hours a week enforcing our code, and he’s not able to get done a fraction of what needs to be done.”

Spinzia said the town is seeing some savings from paying off a highway garage, but there may be more borrowing necessary to conduct a townwide property assessment revaluation.

“We’re in danger of losing ... our 100 percent (equalization rate),” she said. “We have a huge lack of parity in our assess-

ments and we may need to get ... an outside person to come in and revalue the assessment (roll) for us.”

Other budgetary concerns include an anticipated $50,000 increase in the cost of health insurance for employees, Spinzia added

“It’s a contract negotiation year for us with the Highway Department,” she said, “so, in the budget is only a raise for the union workers at tax cap, which I think is about an 11-cent-per-hour raise.”

Salaries under the proposed budget include supervisor, unchanged at $20,000; each of four Town Board members, unchanged at $5,753; tax collector, at $6,763 for a 2.01 percent increase of $133; each of three assessors, unchanged at $9,897; clerk, at $41,653 for a 2 percent increase of $817; and highway superintendent, unchanged at $55,682.

“It’s a contract negotiation year for us with the Highway Department, so, in the budget is only a raise for the union workers at tax cap, which I think is about an 11-cent-perhour raise.” — Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia