Budget Workshop
10/25/11
The Budget Workshop was called to order at 3:02 PM.
Board members present were Councilman MacDougal, Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman Wrisley and Supervisor Boisen. Also present was Audrey Hoskins,
Town Clerk.
Visitors included Frank Walls, Dianne Lansing and Grace Drummond.
Supervisor Boisen said she had made the changes to the budget that were talked about at the last meeting.
Supervisor Boisen said she wants to purchase a new computer for the Town Clerk out of this year’s budget. In case we do not have enough funds at the end of the year, eight hundred dollars was added to the Town Clerk budget for the computer.
General Fund
Town Board same as tentative budget.
Town Justice the same as tentative budget.
Supervisor the same as tentative budget.
Tax Collector the same as tentative budget.
Assessor same as tentative budget.
Town Clerk $800 was added for new computer if unable to purchase in 2011.
Attorney and engineer the same as tentative budget
Buildings same as tentative budget.
Unallocated insurance, municipal assoc. real property charges, judgment & claims the same as tentative budget. Contingency account increased from $20,000 to $30,000. State Justice fees same as tentative budget.
Dianne Lansing asked if they could discuss the line item for training for the new assessor. This was discussed and there is $1500 in line assessor CE/legal fees for the training.
Animal Control PS, SPCA, Animal Control CE and Life Flight the same as tentative budget. Health Officer had to be put the $500 back into the budget.
This position is required in the Town. The Town could not be covered by the County Health Officer.
Highway will be the same as tentative budget except for the Highway Superintendent PS will be raised 5%.
Sidewalks CE was raised from $2000 to $5000 as discussed at the previous meeting.
Parks/docks is $1000. Playground equipment was set at $500. Publicity decreased from $500 to zero.
Special Rec. Facility Grange the same as tentative budget.
The summer youth program was discussed. Ways to cut cost for this program was discussed.
The youth commission was discussed. There are some parents interested in being on the commission. We need to add the $650 to the budget for this.
Councilman MacDougal said he would like the people interested in being on the Youth Commission to come to a meeting and discuss this with the Board.
Beautification the same.
All lines the same until we get to NYS Retirement this was increased from $14,696 to $19,696. Social Security increased from $11,868 to $12,868. Workers comp. same at $1500 Unemployment insurance the same. Disability
Insurance same at $100. Health Insurance increased from $30,000 to $32,000.
The issue of new employees being added to the health insurance was discussed and the cost to the Town. Which Town employees the insurance should be offered to was discussed. The personnel policy was discussed as it relates to health insurance. Part-time employees versus full time employees was discussed in relation to health insurance.
Adding another employee to the union contact and how it would open another slot for a non union employee to be eligible for health insurance was discussed. The added cost of another union employee to the Town was discussed. The
Board wanted a letter from the union members that they would agree to have another member added. The Board also said they would like something in writing from the teamsters that this would be ok with them. Then it will be offered to the employee.
Reviewing the employee policy manual was discussed.
The creation of a Department of Public Works was discussed.
Transfer to other-funds same at $6,000.
The only change to General-Revenue from the tentative budget is line item refuse and garbage. It was decreased from $87,000 to $77,000.
Highway Fund
The only change from the tentative budget is line item improvements-CHIPS was changed to $49,450.
Highway Revenue the only change is to line item Con Highway-CHIPS was
Changed to $49,450.
Lighting-Essex was decreased from $4500 to $4000.
Lighting Whallonsburg was decreased to $2000.
Water District # 1 Line item contractual expense under appropriations – administration was increased from $200 to $50,000.
We are going to need new filters at the pump house. We will need to research the cost of new filters or refurbished ones. Our water superintendent John Coonrod feels these filters are only going to last one more year. Supervisor Boisen said we need to store the chemicals in a separate storage building. This is a DEC requirement. An approved building will cost about $5000. A site for the building will need to be found since there is no room at the pump house site for it.
The building and the filters are not part of this budget. The Board discussed how they need to proceed on this matter. Billing options for water was discussed.
Meters were discussed and the reasons they are not working. This needs to be addressed since sewer usage was to be based on metered water usage. Flat rates for water and sewer were discussed. Business rates and residential rates were discussed.
The Nextel lease was discussed. This money is used to pay the debt service on the water bond.
Supervisor Boisen said it looks like we are not going to have water meters paid for by the sewer funding agencies.
State retirement was increased from $700 to $781.
Water District # 1 Revenues
Unmetered sales was increased from $40,000 to $60,800.
Interest earnings $150.00
Sale of scrap $500.
Refunds-prior year expense $500.
Sewer District Fund
Sewer operator – $43,400 is for Tina Gardner and Tracy Smith yearly salary.
Sewer District – sewer operator $3510 is for retirement and social security.
Sewer contractual is for training and supplies.
Revenues – there will not be enough collected to cover the sewer bond repayments. There will be a need to borrow funds from the General Fund to cover these costs.
The $65,000 in grant money in the water was discussed. This needs to be audited and then the General Fund will need to be paid back $58,000 that was borrowed for the water.
The tax rate was discussed.
The 2% tax cap was discussed. The Town Board supports apply for 2% tax cap levy.
Budget Workshop scheduled for 11/2/11 at 3PM at the Town Hall.
The EMS budget for 2012 was discussed. The request is for $15,000.
The EMS volunteers were discussed and the difficulty of having volunteers to cover 24/7. All the equipment and the ambulance would be turned over to the Town. The Town would then lease it back to the EMS for a dollar a year.
Councilwoman LaPine said she did not feel the newly elected Town Clerk position should receive a four thousand dollar a year raise. It is not right that a new employee should receive more than the Town Clerk that is retiring. Raises were discussed. Councilwoman LaPine said the Town needs a salary schedule for its employees.
Michelle Cassidy has resigned from the Planning Board.
Boots for the Transfer Station employees was discussed.
No other changes were made to the budget.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:45 PM.
Respectfully submitted Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk
