RENSSELAERVILLE — Rensselaerville’s tentative 2025 budget would have town residents paying mostly the same in taxes next year, save for some slight increases in the town’s three fire districts. 

The $3.5 million tentative budget projects there to be a 7.25 percent levy increase for the Medusa fire district (a $4,500 increase over $62,053 this year); a 1.87 percent increase for the Rensselaerville District ($1,428 over $76,337); and a 1.81 percent increase for the Tri-Village District ($1,200 over $66,137). 

Taxes for the general, highway, and other special district funds were unchanged in this first draft of the budget. 

Medusa Volunteer Fire Company President Tabatha Case told The Enterprise this week that the increase came down to inflation, giving the example of equipment, which is 65 percent more expensive this year than it was in 2019.

“This is a really simple example of our rising costs,” she said, “but they are an aspect in all of our operations.”

Budget overview

Appropriations for the tentative 2025 budget are currently about $200,000 more than the current year’s $3.3 million budget, which had an overall levy increase of 1.92 percent, including a 1.66 percent increase in the general fund levy and 0.6 percent increase in the highway one.

Meanwhile, total revenues for the general and highway funds were carried over from this year’s budget to the tentative budget. 

The biggest change to the general fund in the tentative budget is to the various employee benefits lines, which see a combined increase of $52,440, from $298,956 this year. 

Other notable changes in appropriations in the general fund are:

— A $2,000 increase to the town justice line, from $24,000;

— A $1,250 increase to the supervisor line, from $20,750;

— A $1,000 increase to the clerk line, from $45,000;

— A $5,406 drop in building computer fees, from $22,406;

— A $6,826 increase in the ambulance account, from $158,211;

— A $1,751 increase to the highway superintendent line, from $58,366; and

— A $2,000 increase to the library line, from $28,000. 

The highway fund also sees a large increase to its employee benefits at $58,819, up from $196,378. 

Other notable changes to the highway fund are a $26,232 drop in repairs, from $450,732; a $52,785 increase in road materials, up from $372,386; and an $11,124 increase to the snow operators line, from $196,876.