By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

The town of Cicero unveiled its preliminary budget for 2017 Monday morning. While Supervisor Mark Venesky said the town has controlled its spending for 2017, the $14,092,224 total budget represents an 8.02 percent increase over the 2016 budget of $113,046,026.

The preliminary tax levy is $9,196,181, which is a 10.55 percent increase over the 2016 tax levy of $8,318,500.  The preliminary 2017 tax rate is approximately $4.49 per $1,000 of assessed value. A resident with a home valued at $100,000 could expect to pay $448.73 in 2017, compared to $410.23 in 2016.

One highlight of the 2017 budget draft is the restoration of $825,000 to the highway budget for paving. The town also will put $572,991 toward highway debt service, compared to $482,404 in 2016.

“One of my goals was the town would stop borrowing money by the end of my next term if I am re-elected,” Venesky said. “We’re very close.”

Other notable changes in Cicero’s preliminary budget include:

• Assessment: The 2017 budget for the assessment department totals $220,864, a $52,022 increase over the 2016 total. In the fall of 2015, the Cicero Town Board voted to make the assessor a full-time position to save money.

• Parks and rec: The parks budget has dipped from the 2016 total of $434,567 to $393,881. The preliminary budget does not include any funding for equipment; in 2016, that portion of the parks budget totaled $49,000. The 2017 budget also cites no funding for beach monitors at William Park.

• Revenue: The town is projecting an increase in revenue for 2017 from $3,041,379 to $3,245,882 next year.

Caputo agrees to sponsor Gus Macker

In addition to the town board accepting the preliminary 2017 budget Monday, Venesky announced that Todd Caputo of Sun Chevrolet has agreed to be the anchoring sponsor for the 2017 Gus Macker Tournament. The Macker tournament, which is the primary fundraiser for the CanTeen, has suffered the last two years after moving from Driver’s Village to Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Sponsorship revenue declined by 41 percent in 2015.

Venesky said he and CanTeen Executive Director Tony Brauchle met with Caputo Sept. 29. If the 2017 tournament goes well, Caputo could sign on as anchoring sponsor for future tournaments.