Westerlo plans 2 4M budget
WESTERLO The towns preliminary 2008 budget totals $2.4 million, with $982,000 to be raised from taxes. The proposal is about $110,000 more than this years budget and represents a 4.6- percent increase over 2007.
The bulk of revenues come from the county sales tax.
"I feel it’s a good budget," said Supervisor Richard Rapp.
The largest increases for the 2008 budget are due to the towns buying two new trucks, said Rapp.
The town also now has a planning board, which it did not have since the early 1990s. Town board members, after abolishing the planning board, served as planning board members, too, until the new planning board was created in March.
Rapp said $24,500 has been budgeted for the boards five members. Some of the funds will be used for the planning boards work on a new comprehensive land-use plan, Rapp said.
"I understand there is grant money available," he said.
A public hearing will be held on the budget on Nov. 7 at 7:45 at Town Hall.
Westerlo last conducted a revaluation in 1955, over a half-century ago, so properties are not anywhere near their full-market value. Currently, Westerlo residents pay $334.34 per $1,000 of assessed value. If the budget is approved, they will be paying $361.25 next year.
The towns highway workers will see a 4.5-percent increase in their salaries in 2008. Rapp, who drafted the budget, said he did not raise the town board members nor the town justices salaries.
Raises are slated for the towns clerk, Gertrude Smith, who is also Westerlos receiver of taxes; for Rapp; for and John Nevins, the towns highway superintendent.
Nevinss salary, Rapp said, was raised from $47,000 to $50,000.
"And he’s worth every cent of it," Rapp said.
Nevins comes to the towns highway garage from 3 to 11 a.m. when there are storms and, in cases of bad storms, returns later in the day, Rapp said. Nevins is also a good driver, he said.
The highway department is slated for $870,925 in 2008.
The town recently completed its first municipal water system, which serves about 85 properties in and around the Westerlo hamlet.
Residents saw their water bills triple in August, up from $125 for six months of use, to $375. Westerlo residents who are hooked up to the system also currently pay just over three cents for each thousand gallons.
In February, residents will pay 4.6 cents per thousand gallons. Rapp said the added costs at the beginning of 2008 will be the last increase.
In 2008, the cost of health insurance and retirement benefits will also increase, he said, and more money will go to the library and emergency services.
Westerlo will not see as great and increase as its health insurance for insurance on its vehicles, Rapp said.
Road materials continue to increase due to high petroleum costs, Rapp said.
"I feel so sorry for some of these people on fixed incomes," he said. "I don’t know what they’re going to do."
Depending on town funds, Rapp said, he would like to do some work at the towns transfer station.
"We need a new compactor," he said, estimating the cost to replace the existing one, which is at least 15 years old, at $28,000.
"It all depends on money," Rapp said.
The town has received a $50,000 grant, Rapp said, for a restoration project for the future home of the towns museum on Route 401.
If the preliminary budget is approved, town officials will earn the following salaries in 2008:
Supervisor, $15,000;
Council members, $7,250;
Town Clerk/Receiver of Taxes, $29,780;
Superintendent of highways, $50,000; and
Town Justices, $9,500.
