BERNE — The proposed town budget of $2.27 million for 2016 reflects a tax-rate decrease for the third year in a row, according to Supervisor Kevin Crosier.

The town board will vote today, Nov. 12, to adopt the budget for 2016, which totals $2.3 million. A public hearing was held on Nov. 4.

The budget stays well below the state-set property tax cap of 2 percent in place since 2012; the tax rate will decrease from $4.74 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $4.65. The town’s tax rate was at its highest in 2013, at $4.82 per $1,000.

The assessed value of properties town-wide is higher than last year’s $165.37 million at nearly $167 million.

The preliminary budget includes raises for only two salaried employees —the town clerk, who will earn $40,715, and the senior account clerk, who will earn $52,224. Both are full-time posts.

Crosier’s salary of $18,666 remains the same, as do the council members salaries, at $14,117 for four. The two town justices are paid $9,500 each; the town attorney’s pay is $12,648 and the deputy’s attorney makes $10,200; the building/zoning inspector’s salary is $15,000; and the superintendent of highways, a full-time position, remains at $52,224.

Crosier said the town was able to achieve the tax reduction, in part, through its Municipal Information Systems accounting program, which allows officials to track and analyze spending.

“We scrutinize every purchase,” said Crosier this week. “Everything from paperclips to dump trucks.”

He also said the town has gotten a number of grants that have allowed it to offer increased services without borrowing money.

As an example, he referenced the $300,000 grant secured by Senator George Amedore, announced in September, to build a salt shed at the town highway department. The shed will be shared by the town and Albany County.

“I work to form partnerships with the counties and other municipalities because everyone benefits,” said Crosier.

The general fund and the highway fund are both debt free, he said, as is the library.

“In the last three years we bought close to $500,000 worth of equipment in the highway department, but we still manage to be debt free,” said Crosier.

Money for the general fund comes mostly from a projected $400,000 sales-tax distribution from the county; $346,172 comes from property taxes, $192,400 from the town’s fund balance, and $46,000 in state aid.

Money for the highway fund comes from $604,200 in property taxes, $410,000 from county sales tax, $183,000 from the state Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, and, $175,300 from the town’s fund balance.

The 358-acre Game Farm Road property, which was purchased by the town in December 2014, for $474,500 — $362,500 of which was grant money — is already generating revenue, said Crosier.

“We haven’t even owned it for one full year and it’s revenue-positive,” he said. “I expect that will only increase.”

He mentioned some of the expenditures planned for 2016, including building a new pavilion in the town park with bathrooms and a snack bar and purchasing stand-by generators for all town buildings.

“Our goal is to keep going backwards,” Crosier said. “In terms of the tax rate, we want to keep decreasing each year.”