by David Flint
Despite an estimated 2.5% fall-off in sales and mortgage tax revenue for next year, the Stephentown Town Board still managed to come up with a 2009 budget with a bottom line 5% decrease in the property tax levy. “It’s been a difficult time,” said Town Supervisor Tom Sherman, presenting the budget at a public hearing Monday evening prior to the regular Town Board meeting. He said the Board had worked hard, after they voted down their own budget last month, to come up with a spending plan that would continue the basic services of local government, provide support to Town organizations and still reduce the property tax.
The Board cut spending in the General Fund by 8.3%. There are no salary raises for elected Town officials. The Court Clerk and the Clerk to the Supervisor (formerly Deputy Town Supervisor) will get a 5.3% increase and the Zoning Board Clerk a 1.2% increase. The Constable position has been reinstated but in a reduced capacity, responsible for Court security only and taking a 30% cut in pay to $4,500 with nothing in his budget for equipment or contractual services. The positions of Deputy Building Inspector and Town Hall Custodian have been eliminated. Cleaning of the Town Hall will be contracted.
In the Highway Department spending will be down by 11%. No money has been put in the budget for machinery or equipment, and allocations for personal services and for snow removal have been cut significantly. No money has been included for bridges. The Department does expect to receive an 18% increase in CHIPS aid.
The Board has been wary about drawing down the unexpended fund balance too far. As opposed to 2007 when about $309,000 was used to balance the budget, for next year only $50,000 will be taken from the fund balance. Instead of allocating money for a needed new mower for the Highway Department, the Board will explore the possibility of shared services, or, failing that, they will consider bonding it.
The Stephentown Memorial Library will receive $40,691 next year, an increase of $5,891. The allocation for the Youth Commission will be cut from $44,650 to $41,600. The Historical Society will receive $8,800, considerably less than last year when the Board provided additional help to install thermal panels and repair the steeple at the Heritage Center but an increase of $2,300 over 2007. The Stephentown Seniors will have $13,000 allocated for their trips, and the Stephentown Veterans will receive $1,500, both amounts the same as last year.
The total amount of expenditures in the budget, including the Fire District expenditures which are down by 9%, comes to $1,373,543, resulting in an overall tax levy of $755,393, a 6.2% decrease from the current year.
Also presented at the public hearing was a recommendation from Town Assessor Tom MacVeigh to adopt a new law that would provide a property tax exemption for Cold War veterans. These veterans, MacVeigh said, are those who served between established wartime dates, i.e. between WW II and the Korean War (12/31/46 to 6/27/50), between the Korean War and Vietnam (1/31/55 to 2/28/61) and between Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War (5/7/75 to 8/2/90). The Town has the option of granting an exemption at the level of 10% of assessed value, not to exceed $8,000, or at the level of 15%, not to exceed $12,000. MacVeigh recommended the 15% level. This would also provide for an exemption of 50% for disabled veterans, not to exceed $60,000.
MacVeigh said he could not determine what impact this would have on the tax rolls but he did not think it would be very significant. He guessed that the number of residents eligible would be less than 25. In any case, he felt it was deserving to these veterans who, just as other veterans now covered by tax exemptions, also gave up a portion of their lives to serve their country. He noted that not all of those who served during wartime saw combat and many never left the country.
In the regular meeting that followed the public hearing, the Board unanimously adopted the budget for 2009. They put off taking action on the veterans exemptions until the wording of the proposed law has been reviewed by an attorney.
Sherman said the Board is planning to have a new tank with a fuel management system installed at the Town Garage. The plan is to make this a shared system used also by the Fire Department and Rescue Squad. In the meantime, however, he suggested that the Rescue Squad be given access to the present fuel tank so that they can use it in an emergency. He noted that there was an incident recently in which the Rescue Squad returned late at night with very little fuel left in the tank. Tammy Madden said that the issue has been discussed at fire meetings and the Squad is normally careful to never let the tanks go below three quarters full. She agreed, however, that it would be good to have a backup.
Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer Dean Herrick notified the Board that a new Workers Compensation law goes into effect December 1. After that date he will not be able to issue a building permit unless the owner or builder submits a form stating that they are in compliance with the Workers Compensation Law or are exempt from it. Residents can download the form from the State website. This will be posted on the bulletin board outside the Town Hall.
Billy Hammersmith reported that representatives from the Mine Safety & Health Administration of the US Labor Department would be at his gravel mine in Cherry Plain on Tuesday to conduct a training session for Town highway employees. He expected that Stephentown employees would be attending. A report will have to be filed on each person using the mine and each person will have to sign a paper indicating that they are a certified and trained user.
Sherman noted in this context that a program of quarterly random testing for drugs and alcohol will also be instituted in the Stephentown Highway Department.
Regarding the proposed Town takeover of Nora Way in North Stephentown, Sherman reported that the Board has finally located the whereabouts of the owner of one of the houses on that road and they are seeking to get that person’s agreement to the takeover. When that is done, all of the paperwork should be in order, but the Town cannot go forward until it is clear that they have complete and clear title to the road.
Sherman also reported that he has been in contact with the County regarding Tinley Road. The County Highway Department has the responsibility of maintaining the access road to the Emergency Services tower constructed off of Tinley Road so there is a possibility they would also agree to take over maintenance of Tinley Road.
Asked about the status of the Revaluation, Assessor MacVeigh said it will be complete in 2009.