2014 proposed Lancaster budget

[Lee Chowaniec]

The Town of Lancaster 2014 proposed budget is available for review at the Town Clerk’s office and will soon be made available on the town’s website – lancasterny.gov

The 2014 tentative budget increases spending (Appropriations) by $622,172; a 2.03% increase (from $30.67 million to $ 31.19 million.

Ad Volorem Budget

Ad Volorem spending increases by $844,731; a 3.57% increase (from $23.66 million to $24.51 million). Under this budget section are:

General Fund

$405,645 increase; 4.63% - from $8.75 million to $9.16 million

General Fund Town Outside Villages

$1,181 increase; 0.12% - from $953,476 to $954,657

Police Fund

$110,697 increase; 1.12% - from $9,466,376 to $9,577,073

Highway Fund Townwide

$2,463 increase; 1.21% - from $203,760 to $206,223

Highway Fund Town Outside Villages

$218,345 increase; 5.3% - from $4,121,060 to $4,339,405

Misc. Special Revenue – Recreation Filing Fee

$50,000 increase; 50% - from $100,000 to $150,000

Special District Budget

In the Special Districts portion of the budget, spending (Appropriations) decreases by $222,559; -3.17% - decreasing from $7,011,578 to $6,789,019.

In this section of the budget are:

Refuse

$252,817 decrease; 10.77% - decreases from $2,347,467 to $2,094,650

Lighting

$4,637 increase; 1.71% - from $270,866 to $275,503

Fire Protection

$11,723 increase; 0.3% - from $3,760,234 to $3,771957

Water Districts

$13,899 increase; 2.2% - from $633,011 to $646,910

Number Crunching Time

We all like to hear our taxes are going down and with this proposed budget:

Town of Lancaster property would expect to see a 2.96% tax decrease on a single family residence assessed at $100,000. Where his or her taxes were $945.65 for 2013, they would be reduced by $27.99 to $917.66.

Village of Lancaster property owners would expect to see a 5.05%% tax decrease on a single family residence assessed at $100,000. Where his or her taxes were $573.65 for 2013, they would be reduced by $28.99 to $544.66.

Village of Depew property owners should expect to see a $2.00 increase on a home assessed at $100,000 – a -0.8% increase. Where that homeowner was paying $241.00 on a home assessed at $100,000, they will now pay $243.00.

However, if spending increases by $622,172, and revenues this year increase by only $343,531 (from $8.66 million to $9.00 million) how is it possible that the amount to be raised by taxation is less this year than in 2013 - from $20.63 million to $20.40 million?

1. Money appropriated from the unreserved fund balance increased from the $1,053,985 used in 2013 to $1,442,440 – a $388,455 increase; 36.86%.

It should be noted that after the $1,053,985 was drawn from the 2012 fund balance there remained $5,369,439 in the unreserved fund balance. After the $1.422,440 withdrawal from the 2013 unreserved fund balance $4,752,858 will remain – a healthy 15.18% ratio between budget and unreserved fund balance.

2. Money appropriated from the reserved fund balance increased from $350,000 to $450,000; a 28.57% increase.

It should be noted that the 2012 reserve had a balance of $1.21 million after $350,000 was appropriated for use. After appropriating $450,000 from this fund for 2014 budget use $1.60 million will remain in the fund – primarily from the infusion of $1.20 million from the sale of the Colecraft Building which can only be used to pay down the debt service.

3. Total Town Valuation increased by $34,431,037 this year – from $2,668,138,643 to $2,702,569,680.

More to Come

This is just a cursory look at the proposed budget. The nuts and bolts to come.

[gorja]

I've just got this feeling that the Dems are going to play to the taxpayers at election time and find more cut to the budget.

[4248]

Truly - the Dem's know the only things they could recommend cutting would be "Patronage Jobs/tax funded jobs" - they wont do that.

They need those 300-400 votes to keep them in control. Unless the "Party Chairman" and the Local Party Boss's can convince loyal that anything proposed will give them good campaign literature and then be shot down at the Board Level.

Saying "We want to do this - but he(Supervisor) wont let us - wont fool too many people. They ran out of feel good tax funded give aways already - they used the tax subsidized batting box at Westwood - Council member Ruffino already failed at pretending tax dollars weren't used to fund his memorial clocks - he didn't deliver - twice on tax funded soccer fields -

Also remember not one of the Dem Controllers tried to stand up to Gov Cuomo's gun grab act ! As a matter of fact they all agree hunting and gun ownership is no longer welcome in Lancaster. They supported the gun restrictions and acted in the past to ban hunting in Lancaster.

The only people reading and believing their false claims are their own "Party Players" patting themselves on their tax funded backs.

[gorja]

Tentative budget is posted - http://lancasterny.gov/pdfs/2014%20B...e%20Budget.pdf

[shortstuff]

Great, suggestion though, what seems ridiculous is the Longevity pay. The police alone is $83,750. I can see the negotiations looking to take that out.

[Lee Chowaniec]

I've just got this feeling that the Dems are going to play to the taxpayers at election time and find more cut to the budget.

Really, cut the budget more. I am interested to see how the Dems are going to handle Fudoli's proposal to cut a full time employee position from the Town Clerks office and use part time help - as he attempted to do in last year's budget and where the Dems reinstated the position based on the needs told them by the Town Clerk.

[ichingtheory]

Really, cut the budget more. I am interested to see how the Dems are going to handle Fudoli's proposal to cut a full time employee position from the Town Clerks office and use part time help - as he attempted to do in last year's budget and where the Dems reinstated the position based on the needs told them by the Town Clerk.

They will never go for it..... they should but won't..
I still remember the Dems giving Bob Giza's grandson the position that should never have been filled. Must be nice being in the inner circle....

[gorja]

Really, cut the budget more. I am interested to see how the Dems are going to handle Fudoli's proposal to cut a full time employee position from the Town Clerks office and use part time help - as he attempted to do in last year's budget and where the Dems reinstated the position based on the needs told them by the Town Clerk.

I'd like to know how their going to handle it too. How close to election time will this all play out?

[Lee Chowaniec]

I'd like to know how their going to handle it too. How close to election time will this all play out?

The more I examine the budget, the more I have come to realize what a solid budget it is.

If the Dems come in with idea on how to lower the budget even more, it would be to their advantage.

If the Dems add to the budget I believe they will will get cut off at the legs and the blowback will adversely impact their re-election chances.

[Trink]

When does the voting on the budget take place, before or after the election?

[gorja]

When does the voting on the budget take place, before or after the election?

That's my query too. Last year, the Public hearing was 11/5 and adoption on 11/19. Voters have short memories. If the Dems put the position back into the clerk's office, voters won't remember in the 2015 election

[Lee Chowaniec]

The annoncement for the public hearing will take place at the October 21st meeting.

The public hearing will be held on Monday, November 4th.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.

The budget will not be finalized and approved until sometime after the election.

We have been given good reason by the two Republican candidates that their platform and campaign promise is to support the open and fiscal fiscal policies set by the supervisor, and if elected into office will follow his example.

Win or lose the incumbent Dem council members are in a position to screw with the budget. If they lose their seats they can screw with the 2014 budget. If they are re-elected they can screw with the budget and will say they were given a mandate to act as they see fit. It is my understanding that they are already garnering suport to add the changed clerk's office full time position to part time back to full time. But you won't hear that until after election time. The tentative budget is what will be discussed at the public hearing.

[gorja]

Thanks, Lee. I, also saw in the communications section of the agenda that the town justices are requesting an additional position for a substitute part time court officer.

[Trink]

Thank you for clarifying that Lee. I am unfamiliar with the process but learning quickly. It's too bad they can't vote prior to the election, however, that didn't work to Giza's advantage during his re-election so who knows who is really paying attention. I think it's a shame people don't get involved. Fudoli's article in the source a couple weeks ago suggested people come to these public hearings and meetings so their voice can be heard. I like that he is trying to get people to notice they can have a say in what goes on in the town. It is a nice change that a politician wants the people involved instead of trying to fly under the radar and doing things behind the backs of the tax payers.

[ichingtheory]

Thank you for clarifying that Lee. I am unfamiliar with the process but learning quickly. It's too bad they can't vote prior to the election, however, that didn't work to Giza's advantage during his re-election so who knows who is really paying attention. I think it's a shame people don't get involved. Fudoli's article in the source a couple weeks ago suggested people come to these public hearings and meetings so their voice can be heard. I like that he is trying to get people to notice they can have a say in what goes on in the town. It is a nice change that a politician wants the people involved instead of trying to fly under the radar and doing things behind the backs of the tax payers.

I agree! Our former Supervisor made no secret of the fact that he did not appreciate residents attending town board meetings and heaven forbid, voicing their opinions.