2018 Lancaster Tentative Budget

[Lee Chowaniec]

The 2018 Lancaster Budget has been posted on the town website.

Despite the $1.07 million (3.3%) in increased spending (Appropriations), the $1.02 million (4.74%) increase to the Amount to be Raised by Taxation, and the 2.51% increase in the tax rate, the Tax Cap Calculations indicate the town met the tax cap levy limit (under by $77,000).

Appropriations

2017 - $32,326,923
2018 - $33,392,261
Increase of $1.07 million (3.3%)

Estimated Revenues

2017 - $9,590,335
2018 - $9,633,335
Increase of $109,800 (1.14%)

Appropriated Fund Balance

2017 - $942,450
2018 - $1,002,450
Increase of $60,000

Appropriated Reserves

2017 - $400,000
2018 - $340,000
Decrease of $60,000

Amount to be Raised by Taxation

2017 - $21,394,138
2018 - $22,416,476
Increase of $1,022,338 (4.78%)

Tax Bills

(Based on single family residential property assessed at $100,000)

Town of Lancaster

2017 - $905.79
2018 - $928.55
Increase of $22.76 (2.51%)

Village of Lancaster

2017 - $533.79
2018 – $548.55
Increase of $14.76 (2.77%)

Village of Depew

2017 - $247.00
2018 - $256
Increase of $9 (3.64%)

Comment

The entire budget can be reviewed by logging on to the Town of Lancaster website. The only document not provided is the computation on how the town met the tax cap limit.

There will be a public hearing on the budget on October 16th.

As of now this tentative budget meets the tax cap limit and there is no need for an override tax cap vote.

[gorja]

The 2018 Lancaster Budget has been posted on the town website.

Despite the $1.07 million (3.3%) in increased spending (Appropriations), the $1.02 million (4.74%) increase to the Amount to be Raised by Taxation, and the 2.51% increase in the tax rate, the Tax Cap Calculations indicate the town met the tax cap levy limit (under by $77,000).

Appropriations

2017 - $32,326,923
2018 - $33,392,261
Increase of $1.07 million (3.3%)

Estimated Revenues

2017 - $9,590,335
2018 - $9,633,335
Increase of $109,800 (1.14%)

Appropriated Fund Balance

2017 - $942,450
2018 - $1,002,450
Increase of $60,000

Appropriated Reserves

2017 - $400,000
2018 - $340,000
Decrease of $60,000

Amount to be Raised by Taxation

2017 - $21,394,138
2018 - $22,416,476
Increase of $1,022,338 (4.78%)

Tax Bills

(Based on single family residential property assessed at $100,000)

Town of Lancaster

2017 - $905.79
2018 - $928.55
Increase of $22.76 (2.51%)

Village of Lancaster

2017 - $533.79
2018 – $548.55
Increase of $14.76 (2.77%)

Village of Depew

2017 - $247.00
2018 - $256
Increase of $9 (3.64%)

Comment

The entire budget can be reviewed by logging on to the Town of Lancaster website. The only document not provided is the computation on how the town met the tax cap limit.

There will be a public hearing on the budget on October 16th.

As of now this tentative budget meets the tax cap limit and there is no need for an override tax cap vote.

Thank you for posting the comparison nuts and bolts.

[Lee Chowaniec]

Thank you for posting the comparison nuts and bolts.

Not so much a ‘nuts and bolts’ post, but just a cursory view of the budget and post.

Unfortunately, many reading the first post will view the proposed budget as acceptable as it meets the tax cap limit and only has a tax rate increase of 2.51%. However, where property assessed at $100,000 will only realize a $22.76 tax increase, for properties assessed at $250,000 and up you start talking about a sizeable tax increase.

Regardless, anyone taking the time and making an effort to examine this budget vs. past budgets would find some disturbing signs on this budget and how we got to meet the tax cap but are required to pony up a 2.51% tax rate increase (Town) when the last five town budgets cut taxes.

Debt Service

For starters, we indeed cut taxes from the 2013 budget to last year which lowered the property taxes due on a property assessed at $100,000 from $962.15 in 2012 to $905.75 in the 2017 budget (now $928.55 in the proposed 2018 budget.)

During that same period, our debt service has increased by the following:

2018 - $29.99 million
2017 - $28.70 million
2016 - $26.63 million
2015 - $25.29 million
2014 - $25.93 million
2013 - $23.61 million
2012 - $23.49 million

Today the town pays $886,885 in interest on outstanding debt service and where the great majority of serial bonds do not reach maturity until 2020.

Did we rob Peter to pay Paul to offset those tax cutting years?

When our outstanding debt service is 90% of our total town budget, is the town acting fiscally responsible?

[jennifer7]

And next year the taxes will be raised again, then again in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 ..and again again ........ Anywhere else in country raising taxes is viewed as commiting economic suicide and is considered fiscal irresponsible & mismanagement !!

Don't forget the Schools Taxes go up too. LOL just got 2 email's from people who live in Lancaster who were on the fence about moving to South Carolina & Arizona who seen this post and said that it's time to move LOL. I know alot people in Cheektowaga are on bubble about moving south & west too.

[gorja]

Originally posted by Lee Chowaniec:
Appropriations

2017 - $32,326,923
2018 - $33,392,261
Increase of $1.07 million (3.3%)

Estimated Revenues

2017 - $9,590,335
2018 - $9,633,335
Increase of $109,800 (1.14%)

When I saw that in this 2018 tentative budget, the percentage increase in appropriations is almost 3 times the percentage increase in revenues, I had to look at previous budgets.

In the last 4 budgets, the opposite is true. The percentage of revenue increase outweighs the percentage in appropriations.

Now, why is there a 3.3% increase in appropriations?

Check it out to find out.
http://www.lancasterny.gov/index.php...ntative-budget

Appropriations

2016 - $31,882,387
2017 - $32,326,923
Increase of $444,536 (1.4%)

Estimated Revenues

2016 - $9,408,535
2017 - $9,590,335
Increase of $181,800 (1.9%)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Appropriations

2015 - $31,306,164
2016 - $31,882,387
Increase of $576,223 (1.8%)

Estimated Revenues

2015 - $9,106,144
2016 - $9,408,535
Increase of $302,391 (3.3%)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Appropriations

2014 - $31,285,872
2015 - $31,306,164
Increase of $20,292 (.065%)

Estimated Revenues

2014 - $9,004,8022015 - $9,106,144
Increase of $101,342 (1.1%)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriations

2013 - $30,672,747
2014 - $31,285,872
Increase of $613,125 (2%)

Estimated Revenues

2014 - $8,659,6652014 - $9,004,802
Increase of $345,137 (4%)

[jennifer7]

Another question? Why are the Taxpayer paying over 4 Million a year for a Volunteer FD & unmanned fire stations, providing below national standards, EMS Level & long response times, Why does Lancaster need 14 Fire Chiefs ? and have 14 take home Luxurious new SUV's were 95% of the use and wear & tear is for personal use 14 of them. Yes 14, Sounds like they have too much money ?

4 million is enough money to have a paid fire department with professional Firefighters in manned Fire Stations providing Paramedic Level which is the national standard everywhere else except in Erie County NY, The town should hire a consult and have them do studies

[jennifer7]

Erie County Government workers & teachers the already the highest paid in Country and are making double what the average government workers due, soon they will be making triple,

[Lee Chowaniec]

Appropriations (Expenditures) are categorized in the budget in several ways. Here are two examples of looking how our money is being spent in the tentative 2018 budget where the total budget increases from the 2017 budget by $1,065,338 (3.30%):

Summary of Appropriations by Function

General Government Support - 5.05% ($159,928)
Public Safety - 3.44% ($355,581)
Health - -7.75% (-$6,000)
Transportation - 2.40% ($83,016)
Culture and Recreation- 2.91% ($65,813)
Home and Community - 4.05% ($128,009)
Undistributed - 2.83% ($278,991)

GRAND TOTAL - 3.30% $1,065,338


Fund Appropriations

General Fund - Townwide

2017 - $ 9,450,934
2018 - $ 9,747,766

Increase of $296,832 (3.14%)

General Fund - Town Outside Villages

2017 - $974,434
2018 - $1,071,623

Increase of $97,189 (9.97%)

Police Fund

2017 - $9,745,752
2018 - $9,952,860

Increase of $207,108 (2.1%)

Highway Fund - Townwide

2017 - $354,807
2018 - $481,111

Increase of $126,304 (3.55%)

Highway Fund - Town Outside Villages

2017 - $4,555,088
2018 - $4,672,977

Increase of $$117,889 (2.58%)

Misc. Special Revenue

Tree Planting Fee

2017 - $60,000
2018 - $25,000

Decrease of $35,000 (58.33%)

Police Asset Forfeitures

2017 - $46,000
2018 - $46,000

0% increase

Recreation Filing Fee

2017 - $150,000
2018 - $150,000

0% increase

Memorial Garden Fund

2017- $2,000
2018 - $2,000

0% increase

Subtotal - General Budget

2017 - $25,339,015
2018 - $26,149,337

Increase of $810,332 (3.2%)


Special Districts Budget

Refuse District

2017 - $2,248,610
2018 - $2,338,745

An increase of $90,135 (4.00%)

Lighting District

2017 - $265,000
2018 - $296,058

An increase of $31,000 (11.70%)

Fire Protection District

2017 - $3,816,750
2018 - $3,855,342

An increase of $38,592 (1.00%)

Water Districts

2017 - $657,548
2018 - $752,924

An increase of $95,378 (14.5%)

Subtotal of Special Districts

2017 - $6,987,908
2018 - $7,242,924

An increase of $255,018 (3.65%)

[gorja]

There's also this categorization of the appropriations

Summary of Appropriations by Category

Personal services - 4.38% ($498,104)
Equipment - 10.48% ($72,000)
Contractual - 2.08% ($216,243)
Employee benefits - 1.52% ($60,465)
Debt service - 10.83% ($316,526)
Interfund transfer - -3.33% (-$98,000)

Grand Total - 3.3% $1,065,338

[gorja]

From this week's Lancaster Bee
Lancaster Town’s tentative budget filed
by AMY ROBB Editor
Public hearings were set at Monday night’s Town Board meeting to discuss the Town of Lancaster’s tentative operating budget and special districts budget. Both hearings will be held at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16.

Supervisor Johanna Coleman briefly discussed the tentative budget during public comment, advising that the plan is currently $727 under the tax cap.

“It is a challenge to continue to provide a high level of service to our residents while limiting the financial impacts. As our town continues to grow, so do the needs of our residents. It was my goal to remain under the New York State’s Real Property Tax Cap, and this budget does just that,” Coleman said in a letter to the board dated Friday.

The tentative budget totals an estimated $9.7 million, with $7.16 million to be raised by taxation. Compared to the previous year’s adopted budget, that amount is a difference of $296,832. The tax rate would increase by 5 cents, to $2.43 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation.

The supervisor outlined what was made a priority while putting together the tentative budget, including infrastructure, landmarks such as the historical museum and library, and repairs within the Parks Department and Highway:

“This year and over the next several years we are conducting much-needed repairs to our infrastructure. Several waterline projects are under way; repairs are being done to many of the bridges and culverts in the town and both villages. The long-neglected Historical Museum on Clark Street will receive a new roof and portico, the Lancaster Library will receive funding to repair the restrooms, new roofs are planned for the picnic shelters in Westwood and Walden Pond parks, extremely old heavy equipment is being replaced in the Highway and Parks departments, drainage work has been a prime focus this year, and three of the town’s four union contracts have been settled.”

Under the tentative budget, four full-time positions were added, including one Highway Department laborer, a police lieutenant, one building inspector and one laborer in the Parks Department.

A salary adjustment was also made in the budget, to allow the lead dog control officer full-time rather than part-time status.

For the full tentative budget, visit www.lancasterny.gov and go to “Government,” then “Town Budgets.” The 2018 tentative budget is the last PDF file.

http://www.lancasterbee.com/news/201...get_filed.html

[Lee Chowaniec]

From this week's Lancaster Bee
Lancaster Town’s tentative budget filed
by AMY ROBB Editor
Public hearings were set at Monday night’s Town Board meeting to discuss the Town of Lancaster’s tentative operating budget and special districts budget. Both hearings will be held at 7:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16.

Supervisor Johanna Coleman briefly discussed the tentative budget during public comment, advising that the plan is currently $727 under the tax cap.

“It is a challenge to continue to provide a high level of service to our residents while limiting the financial impacts. As our town continues to grow, so do the needs of our residents. It was my goal to remain under the New York State’s Real Property Tax Cap, and this budget does just that,” Coleman said in a letter to the board dated Friday.

The tentative budget totals an estimated $9.7 million, with $7.16 million to be raised by taxation. Compared to the previous year’s adopted budget, that amount is a difference of $296,832. The tax rate would increase by 5 cents, to $2.43 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation.

The supervisor outlined what was made a priority while putting together the tentative budget, including infrastructure, landmarks such as the historical museum and library, and repairs within the Parks Department and Highway:

“This year and over the next several years we are conducting much-needed repairs to our infrastructure. Several waterline projects are under way; repairs are being done to many of the bridges and culverts in the town and both villages. The long-neglected Historical Museum on Clark Street will receive a new roof and portico, the Lancaster Library will receive funding to repair the restrooms, new roofs are planned for the picnic shelters in Westwood and Walden Pond parks, extremely old heavy equipment is being replaced in the Highway and Parks departments, drainage work has been a prime focus this year, and three of the town’s four union contracts have been settled.”

Under the tentative budget, four full-time positions were added, including one Highway Department laborer, a police lieutenant, one building inspector and one laborer in the Parks Department.

A salary adjustment was also made in the budget, to allow the lead dog control officer full-time rather than part-time status.

For the full tentative budget, visit www.lancasterny.gov and go to “Government,” then “Town Budgets.” The 2018 tentative budget is the last PDF file.

http://www.lancasterbee.com/news/201...get_filed.html

The tentative budget totals an estimated $9.7 million, with $7.16 million to be raised by taxation. Compared to the previous year’s adopted budget, that amount is a difference of $296,832. The tax rate would increase by 5 cents, to $2.43 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed valuation.

The tentative budget totals $33,392,261, not $9.7 million. The $9,7 million is the appropriation for the General Fund - Townwide only.

The amount to be raised by taxation is $22,416,476, not $7.16 million. The $7.16 million is the amount to be raised by taxation for the General Fund – Townwide appropriation.

Ms. Robb suggests her readers review the budget on the town website. Perhaps she has been remiss in doing the same.

[Lee Chowaniec]

To really get to the nuts and bolts of the budget, Gorja, one has to look at the individual appropriation funds and ferret out what led to the $1.07 million budget increase over the 2016 budget.

You will find the following cost contributors to the increased budget:

• Near all town employees received a 2% wage increase; puzzling that the Police Chief and the two Captain got 4% and they only contribute a flat $750 per year to their health insurance (valued at $20,000).

• One police officer was added to the Police Department

• One laborer added to the Highway Department

• One laborer added to the Parks Department

• One position added to the Building Inspector’s Office

• The part-time DCO position was converted to a full-time position and increases to assistant DCO’s pay

• Town & Dispatch will settle contract negotiations – wage increase and employees most likely will contribute 5% to their $20,000 health care insurance premium

• Benefits/ pensions/ social security costs increase

You will also find revenue contributors:

• Town property valuation increases

• State Aid increase

• Small increase in Estimated Fund Revenues

• Unreserved Fund Balances:


Unreserved Fund Balance

2017 - $7,285,487

$942,450 - amount appropriated to help balance budget

$6,343,037 - amount remaining in fund

19.62% - % of total budget of $32,326,923

2018 - $8,159,956

$1,002,450 - amount appropriated to balance budget

$7,157,506 - amount remaining in fund

21.43% - % of total budget of $33,392,261

Comments

We are told the tax cap calculation indicates the town’s $22,416,476 amount to be raised by taxation is $727 under the tax cap levy limit of $22,417,203 (1.99%). Yet the amount to be raised by taxation percent of increase from last year is 4.74%. The tax rate has an increase of 2.51%. Confusing? Indeed.

As happened last year, less unreserved funds were used to balance the budget than in years past. The same holds true here in that $7.16 million remains in the fund balance after appropriations were made; leaving a reserve percent of 21.43. It is my understanding that a healthy reserve generally is considered one at 13-15% of budget.

As this is but the tentative budget, more reserves might be used to offset final budget additions. There is but $727 of wiggle room unless the town board decides to override the tax cap. If no additions come the town should consider using more fund balance money to reduce the amount to be raised by taxation. That is taxpayer money they're holding.

At the October 16th public hearing much of this information (and more) could be presented. Would it make a difference? Nah! The budget meets the tax cap levy limit; game, set, match! The town department heads are happy, as are the town employees and all is well.

Ah, if we could only vote on the budget like with the school budget.

Ah, if only the final budget was presented before the November town election and incumbent board members had to vote on it. Councilman Ron Ruffino has already committed on not overriding the budget. He should be okay with this budget but the final one is always a pisser.

[mark blazejewski]

Ms. Robb suggests her readers review the budget on the town website. Perhaps she has been remiss in doing the same.

I have been critical of "The Bee's" accuracy recently. I wonder if "The Bee" staff could credibly function in the world of a multi-edition daily newspaper, on strict deadline.

[mark blazejewski]

"The Bee," September 14, 2017:

Kearns is currently serving as New York State assemblyman for the 143rd District.

Inexcusable.

[jennifer7]

Talk about Inexcusable !!!!!!!!! Why are the Police Dept Officers even get raising ????????????? WHEN THEIR ALREADY THE HIGHEST PAID IN THE COUNTRY AND ALREADY MAKE OVER DOUBLE OF WHAT THE AVERAGE US OFFICER MAKES. Everywere else, Police officer's, teachers & governmemt workes are luckly to get a raise once every 10 years, Even in booming cities they pay the average salary, But that's why their booming, growing & have billions & billions of private lnvestments and lots & lots of good jobs and have bright futures because they are well run governments and why Erie County has NO PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND NO JOBS AND IS BLEEDING POPULATION FOR DECADES AND HAS NO FUTURE BECAUSE IT'S WORST DAYS ARE STILL YET TO COME WITH THE SHRINKING TAXBASE & THE SKYROCKETING COSTS OF PROVIDING THE BASIC SERVICES BECAUSE THE TOWN COUNCIL'S ARE BUNCH OF STOOGES WHO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY THE UNIONS AND SPECIAL INTRESTS AND HAVE FAILED THE PEOPLE THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO SERVE.