WESTERLO — The Westerlo Town Board has approved a $2.1 million preliminary budget for 2006. That’s an increase of about $170,000 over this year’s budget.

Supervisor Richard Rapp said all of the major increases were unavoidable.
"You’re at everybody else’s mercy," Rapp said. "There’s nothing you can do to control it."

These costs—state retirement, medical insurance, and fuel—are rising in almost every town.

Still, in Westerlo, Rapp said, the tax rate increase will not be very high. Rapp estimated the tax rate would be about $11 or $12 more per $1,000 of assessed property value. In a town with very low assessments, Rapp said, that is not a lot of money.

The town was able to keep the increase low by cutting back extra spending, Rapp said.

In the preliminary budget, the town historian is allotted $10,000, an $8,500 increase over this year. Rapp said that’s because the town is planning on doing more historical activities in 2006.
"We put money in there so the historical society can do something with it," Rapp said.

The budget for the safety inspector also went up significantly, from $18,500 to $22,500. Rapp said growth accounts for that.
"There’s a lot of building going on," he said. "I’ll say that."

Unfortunately, Rapp said, the town doesn’t always benefit from new building. When property is purchased by a church, it’s exempt from property taxes.

Westerlo and nearby towns stretching towards the Catskills once had large tax-paying summer resorts. But, as vacation patterns changed, many of those resorts closed and were subsequently sold to church groups who use them for retreats.
"I’m not against churches. Don’t get me wrong," Rapp said. "By they’ve got to do something about it. I know I’m not the only one complaining."

Of the $2.1 million budget, $757,903 is for the highway department, $54,586 is for the library, $150,900 is for the Westerlo Fire District, $76,000 is for the Westerlo Rescue Squad, $83,596 is for the newly-formed Westerlo water district, and $4,400 is for the Westerlo and South Westerlo lighting districts.

A total of $778,386 is to be raised from taxes.

The following annual salaries were budgeted:

—$13,000 for the supervisor;

—$6,000 for town board member;

—$26,800 for the full-time town clerk/ tax collector; and

—$9,500 for town justice.