BERNE — Berne is officially in cost-cutting mode. 

This week, the Berne Town Board adopted a $2.5 million preliminary budget for 2023, which is a roughly $500,000 drop from this year’s $3 million budget. Much of the savings comes from town positions that appear to have been cut, such as various administrative assistants and department deputies, some of which have been unoccupied.

Town property taxes are staying the same with only $86,330 to be levied overall for a tax rate of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The town had introduced an 87-percent tax decrease last year but without an accompanying reduction in spending. 

Close to half the budget — just under $1.2 million — is being financed with the town’s restricted fund balance, according to the budget’s summary cover sheet, with the remainder to come mostly from sales tax distributed by Albany County, along with money from the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, known as CHIPs.

Some positions that have been retained will see reduced salaries, such as the deputy clerk, who last year was budgeted to receive $21,840 and in 2023 will receive $7,500. The town clerk, Kristen de Oliveira, meanwhile will absorb much of that difference, jumping in salary from $38,043 to $49,484. The town clerk is a full-time position in Berne. 

Meanwhile, the town attorney is budgeted for $20,000 next year, down from $24,500 this year, and the town’s animal-control officer will receive $3,000 instead of $4,000. The justice-clerk line has been reduced from $7,298 to $7,000. 

Some positions, though, will receive more money, such as the highway superintendent, a full-time post; Randy Bashwinger will receive $65,500, up from $58,160. 

Members of the main government boards in the town, all part-time posts, will also receive raises, albeit more modest ones:

— Each of the four town board members will receive $3,856, instead of $3,744.25;

— Each of the four planning board members plus an alternate will receive $1,850, up from $1,803, while the planning board chairman will receive $2,500; and

— Each of the four zoning board members plus an alternate will receive $637, with the chairman receiving $850.

The town supervisor, a part-time post, is not receiving a raise, remaining at a salary of $23,000. 

Further savings are found throughout the accounts in miscellaneous areas.

Notably, the salary line for the chairman of the assessors has been left vacant, leaving salaries for only two assessors; the town’s law requires that there be three elected assessors. Chairman Brian Crawford is retiring from the position at the end of the year and will need to be replaced under the current system. The vast majority of towns in New York State have a sole appointed assessor, rather than three elected ones.

Berne will continue to contribute to Helderberg Ambulance despite the cost increases proposed by the volunteer organization, which is aiming to establish a scholarship fund at State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill next year to maintain its membership numbers. (See related story.)

Captain Neal Hogan explained to The Enterprise that Berne “is going to fund us in two different ways: a basic contribution from their general fund, and then they also receive reimbursement for advanced life support calls.” 

Next year, Berne anticipates paying $28,748 for electricity, which is less than it budgeted for this year — $34,101. The Enterprise reported last week that the town frequently left electric bills outstanding throughout this year and last. The town paid for light-emitting diode street lights this year, which are more energy efficient, and has not put any money into the electricity line for Switzkill Farm, which it intends to sell. 

In fact, no money is being put into the Switzkill property, except for $5,000 in miscellaneous contractual expenses. Previously, the town was funding sewer charges, fuel oil, and other things for the property.