$12.29M town budget focus of hearing Nov. 7

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. >>

Town residents will have a chance to comment Thursday, Nov. 7, on a proposed $12.29 million town budget for 2020 that projects a 3.36 percent increase in the town tax levy.

The hearing will start at 7:10 p.m. at the Ulster Town Hall on Town Hall Drive in Lake Katrine.

The proposed budget would increase spending by $547,791, or 4.67 percent over the current year. The property tax levy is projected to rise by $289,487, or 3.36 percent, to $8.9 million.

Salaries for elected officials include the supervisor at $48,000, up $4,000, or 9.09 percent; each of four Town Board members at $10,400, an increase of $400, or 4 percent; town clerk at $53,515, up $2,562, or 5.03 percent; two town justices at $44,596 each, which is up $2,148, or 5.06 percent; and highway superintendent at $78,795, up $3,795, or 5.06 percent.

Line items in the proposed budget include:

• Police salaries at $2.36 million, up $33,844, or 1.46 percent.

• Hospital and dental insurance at $1.59 million, up $153,700, or 10.7 percent.

• Highway Department wages at $918,975, up $57,887, or 6.72 percent.

• Retiree hospital and dental insurance at $730,901, up $51,651, or 7.6 percent.

• Fines and forfeited bail at $530,000, up $5,000, or 0.95 percent.

• Police and fire retirement at $503,270, up $39,517, or 8.52 percent.

• Social Security payments at $390,676, up $18,570, or 4.99 percent.

• State retirement costs at $374,650, an increase of $27,727, or 7.99 percent.

• Sales tax revenues at $266,000, up $16,000, or 6.4 percent.

• Workers compensation for a $252,600, up $26,609, or 11.77 percent.

• Garbage and refuse fees at $210,000, up $2,000, or 0.96 percent.

• Business and occupational license revenues at $165,000, up $15,000, or 10 percent.

• Judgment and claims costs at $149,225, down $125,775, or 45.74 percent.

• Legal and professional services at $75,000, down $50,000, or 40 percent.