Citing that the budget process was a moving target this year because of Covid and potential future impacts, Supervisor Ronald Ruffino declared that there would be discussion and changes down the road, even after budget adoption and closed with “We are all in this together.”
Public hearing
Resident Lee Chowaniec: Good evening. Looking for clarification on several budget items and determination of tax liability.
Before I begin, which budget proposal do you want me to speak on, the one that had been filed with the Clerk’s Office and is still on the website under 2021 tentative budget along with past budgets, or the revised proposal posted on the website front page sometime after Friday? Such short notice left me little time to review the revised version as I just heard of it this morning.
I will speak on the modified version as I had requested at the last meeting the town making changes to the filed budget; one that was incomplete, incorrect and lacking in comparative line item detail that would not allow residents the ability to comment appropriately.
Revised 2021 tentative budget
$35,218,925 - Appropriations (spending) - $851,729 decrease from 2020 budget
$9,867,483 – Revenues - $747,724 decrease from 2020 budget
$562,000 – Fund Balance use
$25,043,442 – Amount to be Raised by Taxes (Tax Levy) - $1,273,498 increase, 5.35%
Tax Rate – 6.71 (8.01 in 2020 budget)
This revised budget proposal does bring much needed transparency, but at the same time has numerous, and sometimes significant, data changes that require further review. I appreciate the changes, although coming late.
Supervisor Ruffino: By law, didn’t need to put out anything more than what was in the budget filed. Did so for transparency.
Chowaniec: Appreciate that tax levy has been reduced from a 6.6% increase to 5.35%. At this reduced tax levy level, are we below the tax cap limit?
Budget Director Pamela Cuviello: Spoke with the State Department and found that another the fund balance use would have to be increased from $308,000 to $562,000 to meet the tax cap limit.
Chowaniec: There is $9.87 million in the unreserved Fund Balance, $1.45 million in the reserved Fund Balance, a total of $11.33 million. Why are we not using more fund balance to lower the tax levy, resulting in lower taxes for taxpaying residents who need relief at this perilous time. Especially for seniors and low-income families who are in jeopardy of losing their homes. Businesses as well.
Cuviello: Declared that because of Covid the town is being conservative in case there is a need if another shutdown occurs, Can’t predict the future. Can’t use fund balance then if there is none.
Supervisor Ruffino: No clue what we will need in the future if another wave of Covid hits in the future. Nor can we predict the revenues.
Chowaniec: I well understand your predicament, hear the taxpayers. I am a senior citizen. The increase I will pay in town, county, and school taxes this year far exceeds the increase I received in Social Security. Residents who are being deceived into believing the new lower tax rate on 6.71 is going to lower their taxes will realize differently when they factor in their new assessments. My tax will increase by 9.6%.
After using only $562,000 of fund balance, there remains over $9 million. In past town budgets, fund balance use was anywhere from $1-$1.9 million. Using but another $600,000 would half the tax levy and resident tax liability – and still leave well over $8 million in the fund balance.
Councilman Robert Leary: Told by auditors that 17% of town budget reserves was appropriate. 17% of a $35 million budget approximates $6 million. The town has 31% in reserves. “We need to work harder on this budget to lower its impact. There are still a lot of errors in the revised budget that need to be addressed,”
Resident David Rinow: Declared that it appeared the town was interested in its own security over that of the citizenry. Many of the residents don’t have the savings to fall back on, unlike what the town is planning on doing. The residents need tax relief – not much empathy for the residents coming from the town.
Councilman Leary: “We have to work harder on behalf of the people. There are lots of errors in this budget that need addressing. As the budget changes we need to put it on the website to keep the people informed.
Supervisor Ruffino: Believes putting it back up on the website should be delayed. The budget is a moving document. A lot of discussions to be had – with department heads as well. Residents can speak on the budget at future public comment sessions or submit written comments. “We welcome input. We are all in this together”.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Lee Chowaniec
