2022 Tentative Budget

[Lee Chowaniec]

At Monday night’s Lancaster town board meeting, resolutions to set public hearings to review the 2022 Special District Budget and the Preliminary Budget were tabled.

Reviewing the tentative budget on the town’s website it is obvious the proposed budget is not ready to become the preliminary budget and acceptable for primetime public review. There are numerous glaring data input mistakes and spending practices that need questioning before the tentative budget is made acceptable for public view.

The board will further review the proposed budget, vote on it becoming the preliminary budget at the October 18th meeting and present it on November 1st for the public hearing.

What we do know about the presently proposed ‘tentative’ 2022 budget and why it needs further review.

How do we go from record budget spending to a near zero tax increase:

The tax levy (Amount to be Paid by Taxation) increases by less than 1 percent. The tax rate decreases from 6.29 to 6.05. Refuse charge increases from $177.93 to $184.

2022 budget vs 2021 budget

The $37,863,415 budget increases spending by $2,534,309 – a 7.17% increase.

General Budget increase – 8.7%
Special Districts increase – 1.7%
An increase in spending not seen in the last 25 years.

General Fund spending increase – 5.07%
Police Fund spending increase – 12.6%
Highway Fund spending increase – 9.26%

Revenue increase of $1,295,798 – 13.22%

Fund Balance Appropriation increase of $1,108,280 - 115% ($963,000 to $2,071,280)

Amount to be raised by Taxation increase $112,516 – 0.46% ($24,536,486 to $24,649.002)

Debt Statement - 2022 Budget
Outstanding Debt (01-01-2022) - $34,250,263
Outstanding Debt Interest (01-01-2022) - $1,089,096

Debt Statement – 2021 Budget
Outstanding Debt (01-01-2021) - $29,605,140
Outstanding Debt Interest (01-01-2021) - $871,739

Fund Balance (2022)
Estimated Unreserved Fund Balance at 12/31/2021 - $10,500,000 (Subtracting the $4,289,047 Fire District mistaken data entry).
Use of fund balance to reduce tax levy - $2,071,280

Salary increases not included as union contracts are still in negotiations.

Considering the numerous data entry errors and questions on spending and non-inclusion of employee salary increases, etc., the budget outcome is likely to change.

Spending, increasing debt load and interest payout is always of concern. Kicking the can down the road when town development is sure to slow should be of concern today..

[shortstuff]

At Monday night’s Lancaster town board meeting, resolutions to set public hearings to review the 2022 Special District Budget and the Preliminary Budget were tabled.

Reviewing the tentative budget on the town’s website it is obvious the proposed budget is not ready to become the preliminary budget and acceptable for primetime public review. There are numerous glaring data input mistakes and spending practices that need questioning before the tentative budget is made acceptable for public view.

The board will further review the proposed budget, vote on it becoming the preliminary budget at the October 18th meeting and present it on November 1st for the public hearing.

What we do know about the presently proposed ‘tentative’ 2022 budget and why it needs further review.

How do we go from record budget spending to a near zero tax increase:

The tax levy (Amount to be Paid by Taxation) increases by less than 1 percent. The tax rate decreases from 6.29 to 6.05. Refuse charge increases from $177.93 to $184.

2022 budget vs 2021 budget

The $37,863,415 budget increases spending by $2,534,309 – a 7.17% increase.

General Budget increase – 8.7%
Special Districts increase – 1.7%
An increase in spending not seen in the last 25 years.

General Fund spending increase – 5.07%
Police Fund spending increase – 12.6%
Highway Fund spending increase – 9.26%

Revenue increase of $1,295,798 – 13.22%

Fund Balance Appropriation increase of $1,108,280 - 115% ($963,000 to $2,071,280)

Amount to be raised by Taxation increase $112,516 – 0.46% ($24,536,486 to $24,649.002)

Debt Statement - 2022 Budget
Outstanding Debt (01-01-2022) - $34,250,263
Outstanding Debt Interest (01-01-2022) - $1,089,096

Debt Statement – 2021 Budget
Outstanding Debt (01-01-2021) - $29,605,140
Outstanding Debt Interest (01-01-2021) - $871,739

Fund Balance (2022)
Estimated Unreserved Fund Balance at 12/31/2021 - $10,500,000 (Subtracting the $4,289,047 Fire District mistaken data entry).
Use of fund balance to reduce tax levy - $2,071,280

Salary increases not included as union contracts are still in negotiations.

Considering the numerous data entry errors and questions on spending and non-inclusion of employee salary increases, etc., the budget outcome is likely to change.

Spending, increasing debt load and interest payout is always of concern. Kicking the can down the road when town development is sure to slow should be of concern today..

Not the same without Dave Brown. There would not be any inconsistencies and errors...

[Lee Chowaniec]

Not the same without Dave Brown. There would not be any inconsistencies and errors...

Miss the guy big time!

In the 20 years I visited Dave's office to get clarification on a budget line item, I found him open, honest and able to explain away my incorrect perceptions - regardless what political administration was in office.

The 2021 tentative budget was chaotic. The 2021 is better but still riddled with errors and missing information.

And to think he was dumped by Supervisor Ruffino for an individual who was let go by the Town of Clarence

SAD!

[Lee Chowaniec]

2022 budget update

The Tentative Budget, without modifications, is hereby approved and shall become the Preliminary Budget of the Town of Lancaster for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022 – so stated in a resolution proposed for approval at Monday night’s town board meeting (October 18, 2021).

A Public Hearing on the Preliminary Budget is also scheduled to be held on the 1st day of November 2021, at 7:15 o'clock P.M

At Lancaster town board meeting of October 4, 2021, resolutions to set public hearings to review the 2022 Special District Budget and the Preliminary Budget were tabled. The board would further review the proposed budget, vote on it becoming the preliminary budget at the October 18th meeting and present it on November 1st for a public hearing.

It is my understanding comments / suggestions were submitted for budget line-item data entry corrections and revisions to amend the tentative budget before resolution approval on October 18th..

Apparently Supervisor Ruffino and his Budget Director believe the tentative budget is good enough to go as presented on October 4th.

As stated in a previous post, reviewing the tentative budget on the town’s website it was obvious the proposed budget is not ready to become the preliminary budget and acceptable for primetime public review. There are numerous glaring data entry mistakes, questionable spending practices, and use of reserves to lower the tax levy that need questioning before the tentative budget is made acceptable for public view.

If the tentative budget is approved Monday night and becomes the preliminary budget presented for public review, the board is certain to be barraged with questions and comments.

[Frank Lee Blunt]

It will be interesting Lee to see how the forced speedy vote to pass an unbalanced budget goes. Mr. Wozniak will be a pivotal deciding vote I'm sure. Tough spot for him especially at election time and 10 family members working alongside him on the TOL payroll