Tax Hike Stays Below Cap
By Doug La Rocque
The preliminary budget presented Monday evening October 29 by Town Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum, calls for $1.2 million in spending in 2019, but would only hike taxes by 1.39 percent. In real dollars, that translates to about six cents per thousand of assessed valuation. Speaking with The Eastwick Press, Supervisor Gundrum said “I think what we have done is to craft a budget that is a realistic depiction of spending needs to maintain the delivery of services to the people of Grafton. And we were able to do so while keeping below the state suggested tax cap.” Ms. Gundrum further stated she was proud of each member of the Town Board, as they kept in mind setting aside reserve funds for future expenditures such as improving infrastructure and upgrading equipment. The Town’s tax base has also continued to increase, with Ms. Gundrum calling it a solid indication of Grafton’s growth. She feels many of the town’s younger population is choosing to stay or move back to Grafton to make their home and start families. The Supervisor also said, “we are seeing an uptick in young people from out of town who have discovered Grafton, putting down roots and adding to the rich fabric of our community.”
The Board has scheduled a public hearing on the budget proposal for Wednesday, November 7 at 6 pm.