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PRESENT: ABSENT: Donald Daoust, Councilman PRESS: Melanie Lekocevic GUESTS: Rick Hanse, Earl Hotaling Supervisor Betke opened the special meeting of the Town Board for adoption of the 2012 budget and for any other business brought before them at 7:20 pm with the pledge to the flag. Budget Officer Dan Westfall stated that this budget is bare bones and at this point revenues and surplus should not be changed. Extremely lengthy discussion regarding various budget accounts. Expenses up, revenue down. Rick Hanse questioned if mandated costs fall under the tax cap. Supervisor Betke sated pension costs alone put us over the 2% limit as they are 18.4%. $5,150 of that can be excluded from the mandate. Earl Hotaling noted that DB fund general repairs has been over budget for 3 years. A, B, DA, DB and SM funds were reviewed. Salary calculations were changed as follows: Discussion regarding part time justice clerk position. Earl Hotaling suggested a 10% salary decrease across the board for elected officials. It was noted that the Board has had several budget workshops and two public hearings on the budget process. The second public hearing was held on November 15, 2011 for the purpose of considering the Town's local law to override the tax levy limit. Despite these meetings and hearings there has been relatively no public input. Additionally, no one came before the Board from the senior group or youth program to request or secure funding. As it appears that the Town will not be under the 2% tax cap, and after discussing the same since October, Supervisor Betke called for a motion to accept Local Law #1-2011 "a local law to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal law Section 3-c." Patrick Kennedy made the motion which was seconded by Alex Betke and duly carried. The board continued on with budget negotiations. Discussion regarding purchasing – effective immediately no spending over $250 without prior Board authorization. Discussion on cutting youth program. As a compromise, $2,000 will be taken from youth program and applied to senior bus trips. Discussion on what can be done to get a "yes" vote. Surplus numbers added back in and 6 hours per week for court clerk. Figures were readjusted and again a vote on the 2012 final budget was called for. A motion to accept the 2012 budget with an increase of $143,187 resulting in a total tax levy of $2,014,060.00 was made by Patrick Kennedy, seconded by Thomas Hobart and duly carried. The meeting adjourned at 11:20 pm on motion of Thomas Hobart, seconded by Patrick Kennedy and duly carried.
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