Village budget proposal draws no comments

Village trustees are pleased with a proposed $2.35 million 2018-19 budget carrying a 0.64 percent spending increase of $14,867.

The budget was discussed Monday during a Village Board public hearing that did not attract any comments from residents.

Mayor Bill Murphy said the budget represents the eighth consecutive year there has been a tax levy decrease.

“I think that’s pretty impressive,” he said. “Our budget is over $1 million less than it was nine years ago. Obviously, (the town takeover of) the police force has something to do with that, but we still maintained and absorbed a lot of other increases over those years.”

Under the proposed budget there would be a $1.68 million property tax levy, a 1.08 percent decrease of $18,267.

Salaries under the budget include mayor, unchanged at $10,200, and six trustees, unchanged at $3,600 each.

Changes in the budget include:

• Street maintenance expenses of $640,443, a 4.14 percent increase of $25,443;

• Employee benefits at $300,000, a 20 percent increase of $50,000;

• State retirement expenses of $130,000, a 10.34 percent decrease of $15,000;

• Building administration costs of $120,725, a 5.81 percent increase of $6,625;

• Code enforcement personal services at $98,208, a 1.25 percent increase of $1,208;

• Social Security at $67,000, a 3.08 percent increase of $2,000; and

• Workers compensation at $35,000, a 36.36 percent decrease of $20,000.

Trustees expect to vote on adoption of the budget at their scheduled April 16 meeting in the village Fire Department meeting room at 43 Partition St.