The tentative 2012-13 Skaneateles village budget, which contains a 1.7 percent tax increase — about an extra 6 cents for every $1,000 — was approved by the village board at its April 2 reorganizational meeting, and will now stand before the public at a budget meeting on April 12.
“We’ve kept to the spirit of the state tax cap,” said Mayor Marty Hubbard about the budget.
The new village budget has been discussed and reworked during two budget meetings by the village trustees on March 24 and 31. At each meeting, only minor adjustments were made to the budget, and the overall document does not contain many major differences from the 2011-12 budget.
Some of the highlights of the 2012-13 budget include:
—$2,000 increase for public works administration.
—Expenditure of $27,163.70 for a new village police car. That amount will be recovered, however, through a grant.
—An increase of more than $7,000 for on-street parking equipment: the cleaning, repair and replacement of meters. This will be used to “recondition” the existing meters rather than purchase new meters, which would cost upwards of $50,000, said Village Police Chief Lloyd Perkins.
—$7,000 reduction for a codes enforcement officer.
—$100,000 increases in street maintenance costs, which includes equipment, equipment repair and materials.
—$6,000 reduction in “culture and recreation” expenses, mainly for reduced insurance costs.
—$6,000 reduction in costs for “shade trees” under “community beautification.”
—$102,000 reduction for employee benefits from the general fund.
—$41,000 increase in real property tax revenues.
—$80,000 reduction in county sales tax revenues.
—$88,000 increase in county infrastructure aid revenue.
—$53,000 reduction for employee benefits from the water fund.
—$272,000 increase in sewer fund for RBC replacement at wastewater treatment plant.
The entire tentative village budget is available online at villageofskaneateles.com/financial-statements.
The public will have an opportunity to comment on the budget at the April 12 village budget meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in village hall.
Also at the meeting:
Newly-elected trustee Jim Lanning took his seat and the board made its yearly appointments. Only a few changes were made this year from last year, including the appointment of a new codes enforcement officer, Adam D’Amico, after the resignation of current CEO Eric Sell in February.
Former trustee John Cromp was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals to fill a vacant seat until 2014, and was named to the Joint Comprehensive Plan Committee. Cromp also was appointed to the new fire station renovation project task force to serve with trustee Lanning as liaison during the renovation project.
Lanning was also named as the trustee liaison to the zoning and planning boards.
The schedule for village board meetings remained unchanged, and will continue to be held at 7:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of every month in the village hall.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Skaneateles Press. He can be reached at [email protected].
