By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
The North Syracuse Village Board of Trustees approved the 2020-21 budget at its April 23 meeting. While the village will remain at the tax cap this year, the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic looms in the background. Despite the uncertainty, Mayor Gary Butterfield said the village has crafted a good budget for 2020-21.
“I’m an optimist. Hopefully we are able to overcome any challenges,” he said.
Butterfield said the village has a strong fund balance and cuts can be made if needed.
“We’ve curtailed any unnecessary spending the last three months of the year so we are anticipating some money coming back to us from this year’s budget,” he said.
Trustee Christopher Strong said Onondaga County is projecting a $44 million loss in its economy, which will affect the infrastructure grants that the village receives (formerly sales tax money).
Clerk-Treasurer Dianne Kufel said possible decreases in parks program revenue and building permits could impact the village as well.
The village’s expenditures for 2020-21 total $5,263,000, which is a 3.6% increase from the current fiscal year. North Syracuse will appropriate $45,213 from its fund balance to remain under the state-mandated tax increase cap of 1.78%. The tax levy is about $3.2 million.
Kufel said North Syracuse will receive about $89,000 from New York state’s Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program and $708,000 in infrastructure grants, up from $604,000 this year.
The 2020-21 budget will be posted online at northsyracuseny.org.
Also on the agenda
• Church-Chestnut project: Paving and sidewalk improvements to the Church Street-Chestnut Street corridor should begin in May, starting with Church Street, pending finalization of NYS Department of Transportation paperwork.
The board awarded the $1,122,639.23 paving bid to Costello Blacktop Paving of Canastota.
• Vacancies: There is a vacancy on the North Syracuse Planning Commission because Pat Gustafson has rejoined the Village Board of Trustees as deputy mayor. There is also a vacancy on the zoning board.
• Parks and rec: Registration for summer recreation programs is on hold for now, and the annual Earth Day cleanup was canceled. Arbor Day event chair Pat Fergerson posted a Facebook live video of the annual tree dedication ceremony on April 24, which can be viewed at facebook.com/nsyrvillage1925.
The annual village-wide garage sale, originally scheduled for May 16 and 17, has been postponed.
