Town proposes minimal increase to spending in 2020

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> The town administration has proposed a tentative budget for next year that increases total spending for the general fund and highway fund by $700,000, a figure nearly covered by the expected increase in the town’s share of country sales tax revenue.

The total expenditure proposed for the general fund is $18,257,822, a $680,000 increase in spending from the 2019 general fund budget. The proposed expenditure for the highway fund is $5,752,991, an increase of $23,044 from the current budget.

If approved by the Town Board the budget will ensure another year without a town-wide general fund property tax.

The tentative budget proposes to increase the salaries of the four town council members, a part-time position, to $16,503 annually. Supervisor Philip Barrett will also see his full-time position’s annual salary increase to $102,348 a year.

Areas of the budget with significant spending levels include health care, equipment, vehicles, and recreational venue upgrades. The tentative budget’s expenditure for employee benefits notes an increase in that budget line from $2.7 million to $2.85 million.

Also, seeing increased funding are summer recreation full-day camp, trials, stormwater management, the town safety office, law enforcement, animal control, Buildings and Grounds Department, Kinns Road Park, Collins Park, and the Barney Road and Locust Lane swimming pools.

Proposed funding cuts are tentatively identified for festivals, community beautification, community development, and the Clifton Common.

Though there is no town property tax to run town hall, there are special district taxes, a highway tax, and county property taxes. An increase in the highway tax from 29.85 cents per $1,000 assessed value to 30.79 cents per $1,000 assessed value is another part of the tentative budget.

The revenue to run the town comes mainly from its share of the Saratoga County sales tax, mortgage taxes, grants, and fees and rentals.

The town is estimating it will receive $13 million in county sales next year, an increase of $550,000 from what it expects to receive this year. The town also expects to see $1.5 million in state mortgage tax, $750,000 from the highway tax, and $327,000 in state CHIPS (Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement) grants.

Taken together the major revenue sources for the town total around $15.5 million. A close look at the proposed budget shows the rest of the revenue coming from items like state grants ($70,000), planning fees ($40,000), interest from savings ($45,000), rental fees ($70,000), the Senior Community Center ($80,000), winter basketball ($77,000), town golf course ($130,000), summer program registration ($220,000), transfer station ($330,000), cable TV commission ($.5 million), fines and forfeited bail ($.5

million), swimming pools ($135,000), and full day camp ($225,000).

“The 2020 budget continues our commitment to ensure Clifton Park remains one of the lowest taxed municipalities in New York state within our peer group,” Barrett said. “Daily, successful execution of long-range planning initiatives and respect for your tax dollar has assisted the Town Board in being able to pay for the expansion of our parks and trails networks, infrastructure and other important quality of life initiatives.”

A review of the tentative budget will now take place among Town Board members. A public hearing is expected to be scheduled for early November.