Even after extending a public hearing regarding the 2011-12 village of Baldwinsville budget for two weeks, no one spoke in favor or against the budget, which included a 13.6 percent increase in the tax rate.
Officials were able to decrease spending for the tax year beginning March 1 and ending Feb. 29, 2012. However, due partially to a $325,000 decrease in anticipated sales tax revenues, the tax rate increased from $6.12 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2010 to $6.95 per $1,000 in 2011. This means a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $695 in annual village property taxes (not including special districts such as water and sewer) for the fiscal year. Tax rates for previous years were: $7.00 per $1,000 in 2007-08; $6.36 in 2008-09; and $6.12 in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
Total expenditures have decreased $313,040 from last year (from $4,233,238 to $3,920,198), which includes a decrease in regular police and highway salaries (down $178,951 and $67,333, respectively), said Treasurer John Salisbury. However, due to increases in retirement and medical insurance costs, as well as the loss of sales tax revenue, the tax levy (total amount collected in property taxes) increased from $1,895,751 in 2010 to $2,178,839 in 2011.
