By Sarah Hall

Editor

Salina Supervisor Mark Nicotra presented his preliminary budget to the Salina Town Board at the Sept. 26 town board meeting.

The  $15,535,273 budget calls for the use of $315,000 from the town’s fund balance. Another $2,485,080 comes from revenues like court fines, program fees, etc. That leaves $12,735,193 to be raised through property taxes, up $2,835,248 from 2016.

According to the preliminary budget, residents outside the village will pay an additional $14.16 per $100,000 of assessed value in 2017. Residents within the village of Liverpool will pay an additional $3 per $100,000 of assessed value next year.

“This budget continues to provide our residents with services they need at an affordable cost,” Nicotra said.

Highlights of the budget include increases in wages and new equipment for several departments, necessary technology license renewals, new vehicle for the dog warden and increased training for lifeguards and pool staff. The town also hired a new code enforcement director, adding $9,000 to that department’s budget.

The budget presented Sept. 26 is only the preliminary budget. The town board and department heads will continue to try to cut expenses to further decrease the final costs to taxpayers.

The town board is holding a public hearing to pass a local law at its Oct. 11 meeting that will allow them to exceed the state tax cap if necessary, but Nicotra has said in the past that the town regularly passes such a law as a precautionary measure. The tax cap this year is the same as the rate of inflation, which is 0.68 percent.

A public hearing on the budget will be held at the Oct. 24 board meeting. The final budget must be passed by Nov. 20 under state law.