Clif ton Park proposal: Spending up by 3.3%

Once again, no general property tax in the budget

The town’s 2020 proposed budget is up in spending by 3.3 percent.

Town Super visor Phil Barrett said on Tuesday that the tentative budget tota ls $18.3 million. Though an increase over 2019’s adopted budget of $17.6 million, the proposed budget continues the town’s tradition of no general property ta x, which Barrett said is rare for a town its size.

“The 2020 budget continues our commitment to ensure Clifton Park remains one of the lowest ta xed municipalities in New York State within our peer g roup,” Barrett said. “Daily, successful execution of long range planning initiatives and respect for your ta x 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.”

The spending plan, he added, does not exceed the state ta x cap.

The highway funds proposed for 2020 total $5.8 million, which is less than a 1 percent increase over the 2019’s $5.7 million.

The highway fund ta x is proposed to increase from 29.85 cents per $1,000 assessed value to 30.79 cents per $1,000 assessed value.

Barrett said increases in highway expenses are related to road paving and infrastr ucture projects as well as rising prices for f uel and road sa lt. He said the town also continues to invest in vehicles and equipment annually to ensure personnel is equipped to handle daily tasks and respond to timely situations.

The proposed EMS ta x rate will increase from 24.18 cents per $1,000 assessed value to 25.17 cents per $1,000 assessed value in 2020. Barrett said the EMS ta x rate has held steady in recent years because of the burgeoning healthcare industr y in Clifton Park and an expanding commercial ta x base.

Barrett also said that the town’s bond rating was upgraded by Moody ’s Investor ’s Ser vice earlier this year. Moody ’s cited Clifton Park ’s “low debt level, strong reser ve position and management ’s proven histor y of conser vative budgeting practices,” as factors that led to the upgrade from Aa2 to Aa1.

“Ever yone wants low ta xes with a positive outlook, well-f unded schools, important ser v ices close to home, plentiful parks and recreational facilities and superior programs and activ ities for people of all ages,” Barrett said. “Growing our commercial ta x base through valuable redevelopment projects and ‘conser vative budgeting practices’ as described by Moody ’s, has placed the town in a position to thrive in a dif f icult economic and reg ulator y environment.” ■ ■