Residents in the town of Salina will pay less than $17 more a year in property taxes, according to Supervisor Mark Nicotra’s preliminary 2016 budget.
Nicotra presented his initial $12.6 million budget to the Salina Town Board at its Sept. 28 meeting, noting that it will likely change between now and the time it must be submitted to the state on Nov. 20.
“It’s always different, no question,” Nicotra told the Star-Review. “As we get better numbers and the board works through it, we always make changes. We’re beginning now to schedule budget hearings with the board and department heads.”
As it stands right now, a homeowner living outside the village of Liverpool with a home assessed at $100,000 will pay an additional $1.38 per month, or $16.56 a year. Meanwhile, homeowners living in the village will pay $10.92 a year, or $0.91 a month, on a $100,000 home.
The budget is up from 2015’s budget of $10,661,563, due in part to increases in medical insurance, debt payments and other expenses totaling $300,000. Nicotra also pointed to continued payments on the town landfill, the closure of which is now complete, and the new wastewater treatment plant, which began operation in April of 2015.
“There are continued costs associated with monitoring the landfill and operation of the wastewater treatment plant,” Nicotra said in his annual budget release. “The amount included in the 2016 budget for the monitoring is $193,000. The landfill debt payment in 2016 will be $397,000, an increase of $115,000 over 2015 payments. The 2016 budget will also add another $76,100 in bond payments relating to mandated consent work from the New York State Deparment of Environmental Conservation for sewer separation projects and the closure of the landfill. All of these costs will have a negative impact on Salina’s 2016 budget.”
In order to help offset those costs, the budget calls for the use of $200,000 from its fund balance. The town will also hold a public hearing to exceed the tax cap. The inflation factor this year is only 0.73 percent instead of 2 percent, so it’s significantly lower than in previous years. The public hearing will be held the same time as the budget hearing on Monday, Oct. 26.
