Tax rate to increase two percent this year
The Cazenovia Village Board of Trustees last week approved the village’s 2017-18 budget, which will include a 2 percent tax rate increase on village residents. This will increase the tax rate from $5.80 per every $1,000 of assessed value on village homes to $5.92 per $1,000 — or an increase of 12 cents per $1,000.
The total budget this year is $2,747,628, which is not quite a $13,000 increase from the previous year’s budget. “This is about as close to zero percent budgeting as you can get,” said Mayor Kurt Wheeler during a board budget work session on March 28, a sentiment he echoed after the board’s vote during its April 3 regular monthly meeting.
Also at the April 3 meeting, the board held a public hearing on the proposed budget before taking a vote, during which no members of the public spoke, and approved a local law to authorize the village to exceed the state-mandated 2 percent tax levy cap for the 2017-18 budget and fiscal year. The board proposes and approves this local law every year.
Also at the meeting:
—Wheeler said they have not heard back from the state on the village/town consolidation grant proposal, but hope notification will come soon. He said the first meeting of the consolidation committee — which is made up of members of the village and town — is scheduled for 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, in the village office. While the meeting is open to the public, Wheeler said it will only consist of initial discussions about the consolidation process.
—Wheeler said work on the new Creekside Park project behind the library is anticipated to begin soon. The park will consist of benches, wildflowers and logs to climb on, as well as an improved parking design.
—The board announced that brush pickup in the village is now ongoing and will continue through May 5, the Lakeside Park public boat launch will open on Saturday, April 29, and the Village Tree Commission will hold its annual Arbor Day celebration at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at Lakeland Park.
