By Jason Emerson

editor

The Cazenovia Town Board last week approved the final 2017 town budget that includes a 2 percent increase in the tax rate.

The $3.1 million budget includes $1.6 million to be raised by taxes, which is similar to the 2016 budget. The budget includes a town tax rate of $1.47 per $1,000 of assessed value for town residents who live outside the village, and $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value townwide.

The preliminary 2017 budget included higher tax rates of $155 and $1.43 per $1,000, respectively, but further work on the budget resulted in adjustments that reduced it by about $60,000, said Supervisor Bill Zupan.

The board held a public hearing on the preliminary budget during its Nov. 7 regular monthly meeting, during which no members of the public spoke.

The 2017 final budget is available for viewing at the town office and on the town website at townofcazenovia.org.

Also at the meeting, the board scheduled a public hearing to discuss proposed replacements and improvements of certain facilities to the Mount Pleasant Water District that will have an expected cost of $30,000. The proposal consists of a new reduced rate pumping system with submersible well pump, a 1,000-gallon storage tank, piping, valves, fittings and lines and other equipment. The public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, in the town office.