Van Buren officials approved the 2011 proposed budget, which decreases taxes by 7.8 percent.
Officials held a budget presentation Nov. 3, followed by a public hearing at which no residents spoke either in favor or against the proposed budget.
The 2011 budget includes: a 2.6 percent decrease in the tax rate for all Van Buren residents; a 10.4 percent tax rate decrease for Van Buren residents outside the village of Baldwinsville limits; and a 10.5 percent tax rate decrease in the highway fund. Taxes on a $100,000 house within the village would be $154.22 (down $4.12) and $431.94 (down $36.69) on a $100,000 house outside the village.
In addition to contractual salary increases and a rise in utility costs, major factors affecting this year’s budget included a 55-percent increase in retirement costs, as well as an increase in insurance costs ranging from 8 to 36 percent, depending on the carrier and coverage.With the exception of a replacement vehicle for the codes department, which is covered by a reserve fund, there are also no new equipment purchases in the proposed budget.
According to Supervisor Claude Sykes, cuts made in previous years helped cut overall expenses, as did responsible budgets submitted by department heads.
