Stephentown Adopts Budget

by David Flint
Stephentown’s Budget for 2013, adopted on Monday by the Town Board, is basically the same as the Preliminary Budget that was presented last month at a public hearing. Projected spending remains the same at $1,261,972 and the increase in the tax levy stays within the cap at 2.2% (or 1.8% when the Fire District budget, unchanged from last year, is included). Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt pointed out that $10,000 less will be taken from the Unexpended Fund Balance as the Board now projects a 14% increase from County sales tax revenue rather than the 10% that was projected in the Preliminary Budget.
[private]Eckhardt said that the only other change was to move $55,000 in projected expense for highway equipment from the Highway Department side of the budget to the General Fund side. Because employee benefits had been moved out of the General Fund into the Highway Fund on the advice of a State auditor, the Preliminary Budget showed a huge decrease in the tax levy on the General side and a huge increase on the Highway side. Putting the equipment expense in the General Fund evens things out better, Eckhardt said.
Advertising Authorized
The Board passed four resolutions authorizing the Town Clerk to advertise for various functions for the upcoming year 2013. All appointed positions that expire at the end of the year will be advertised along with their salaries. In addition, the position of Town Hall Cleaner will be advertised soliciting resumes and letters of interest. Bids will also be solicited for snowplowing at the Transfer Station and the Town Hall, including shoveling and salting of sidewalks. Sealed bids will also be solicited for providing materials for road work. All resumes, letters of interest and bids are due to the Town Clerk by Friday, December 14, at 1 pm.
Fire District Election
Councilman Bill Jennings reported that the Stephentown Fire District will hold an election on Tuesday, December 11, at the Fire Station from 6 to 9 pm. To be elected are two Fire Commissioners, one for a term of five years and one for a term of two years. Anyone interested in being a candidate for these offices must file their name with the Secretary of the Fire Commissioners, Patricia A. Goodermote, on or before December 7.
Piggybacking
Eckhardt reported that he had received a notice from the Office of the State Comptroller regarding a new law on cooperative purchasing, also known as piggybacking. The law allows municipalities and school districts in New York to jointly contract for goods and services with any other federal, State or local government agency. Towns can lower their costs for a particular product or service by using the same contract for a vendor that was used by any other government agency. Eckhardt explained that if, for example, the County puts out a bid for services or for materials such as salt, fuel, tires, etc., Stephentown could piggyback on that bid. “It may save a lot of time and effort on our part,” he said.
Deposits & Spending
The Town Clerk turned over the sum of $477 to the Supervisor for the month of October. The distribution from the Office of the State Comptroller, Justice Court Fund to the Town for September was $1,599.25. The Transfer Station deposited a total of $5,613.
The Board audited and approved claims in the amount of $63,256.75 from the General Account and $29,516.08 from the Highway Account.
The Board set a public hearing on revisions to the Land Use Regulations for Monday, December 3, their next Workshop meeting for Monday, December 10, their next regular meeting for Monday, December 17, the end of year Reconciliation meeting for Thursday, December 27, and the Town Board Organizational meeting for Thursday, January 3; all meetings to start at 7 pm.[/private]