Transfer Station Is No Longer A Drain On The Budget
by Doug La Rocque
Councilman Bill Jennings says as he looks at the 2020 dollars figures for the town transfer station, the ledger sheet is nothing to toss into the waste basket. Stephentown budgeted for $96,000 in revenue for last year, but the final tally is $106,771. Bag fees were up about $7,000.
Mr. Jennings says he doesn’t have all the entries for the expense side of the balance sheet yet, still waiting for the final dumping bills to come in, but he feels the station should about break even this year, maybe even make a dollar or two.
The 2020 Budget Totals Were Bright As Well
Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt remembered all the dire revenue predictions last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Many fiscal experts predicted revenues, particularly sales tax monies, would be severely impacted. Turns out, at least for last year, the storm warning flags were a bit premature. Mr. Eckhardt says the town took in more money than what was budgeted, primarily because these sales tax dollars came in higher than ever before in the third quarter of the year. He reported that the town’s unexpended fund balance (money in the bank) was more than $110,000 in the general fund and over $68,000 in the Highway Department till.
Town Council Members Were Overpaid
Supervisor Eckhardt says because of rounding error, four of the five members of the town council received too much in their final 2020 paycheck. That goes as well for Highway Superintendent Aldie Goodermote. The only one not overpaid was Supervisor Eckhardt. He also told them they could keep the overpayment, since it amounted to a whole four cents. Superintendent Goodermote however, wanted things to be square, and since he was sitting next to the Supervisor during the Zoom meeting, tossed Mr. Eckhardt a nickel, and said “keep the change.”
Library Survey
The Stephentown Memorial Library is looking to conduct a design survey of many different area civic organizations. The board says they are not sure the Stephentown Senior Citizens were included in the group, but urged the Library to consider including them, especially since the town is being asked to kick in $3,500 toward the survey cost. Board members also suggested the Library look into other survey providers to try to bring the cost of the endeavor down.
It would cost $600 for each of these groups to be included, something many don’t have. The Library is also hoping to secure a grant for the project.
Leaving Out The Town Historian
Pat Flint, who holds that position, says the town budget contains funds for the Stephentown Historical Society, but nothing for the Historian, and any expenses she incurs in the course of her duties, comes out of her pocket. She, while a member of the Historical Society, receives no funding from then either. Councilman Jennings made the suggestion the town look into decreasing the Historical Society’s funding a bit, and using that money to offset the Historian’s expenses.
A Reval?
Assessor Jennifer VanDeusen says she continues to research the possibility of a town-wide reassessment, and hopes to let the board know soon if it is something she would like to go forward with at this time.
COVID-19
Town Supervisor Eckhardt says he misses the “good ole days” when the board and other town agencies could meet in person, instead of virtually. He called it “a brave new world,” a reference to Aldous Huxley’s book of the same name. He added that “technology is helping us get through some difficult times.”
The board’s next regular meeting will be Monday, February 15.