Preliminary Budget Eliminates Tax Hike
by Doug La Rocque
After a lengthily public hearing the Grafton Town Board on Monday night, October 26, incorporated a number of changes in the proposed budget that keeps the tax rate at $3.51 per thousand of assessed valuation. It did this by lowering the General Fund appropriations by about $3,000 and increasing the amount of anticipated revenue by approximately $30,000. A slightly more that $1 million increase in the tax base also helped eliminate the original 1.9% tax hike.
The changes did not come easily however, as there were several passionate discussions between Town Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum and Councilman Frank Lewandusky, particularly over a proposed cut in the Supervisor’s Secretary’s hours, a paid ambulance service and the amount of sale tax revenue the town anticipates receiving in 2021. By 3 to 2 margins, the board decided to drop Erika Douglas’s hours from 16 to 10, and increased the amount of sales tax revenue by $24,000. Supervisor Gundrum and Councilman Jeff Wagar opposed the changes, with Ms. Gundrum saying she stood by the original proposal, calling it “a good budget.” Council members Lewandusky, Steve Beaudry and Jodie Deschaine backed the modifications. No changes were made in the Highway portion of the budget.
The spending plan contains two lines for the Grafton Rescue Squad, one at $17,000 and an additional $44,000 for Grafton’s share of a Tri-Town paid ambulance service. Noting the totals of the Rescue Squad’s vouchers this year and last, Councilman Lewandusky asked squad Captain Joe Allain, if he would be comfortable reducing the $17,000 to $15,000 with the squad assuming the cost for its own cell phone and fuel as well. Captain Allain said he could live with that number. If the Tri-Town ambulance does not come to pass, the $44,000 would not be expended. The town of Berlin, which would be part of the Tri-Town venture, has offered to provide the ambulance with fuel every other month. Berlin has also purchased another ambulance that will be stored in Berlin. Please see the Berlin Town Board report on page 3.
For Grafton, the plan now is to bring the revised budget to a vote, presumably at its regular meeting on Monday, November 9. The motion to do so passed with the same three to two margin.