CATO - Trying to find ways to avoid increasing the tax levy, the Ira Town Board unanimously resolved to accept its proposed 2009 budget Wednesday night. The budget will still have to go to a public hearing Nov. 5 before it can be finalized.
The budget occupied a good portion of the meeting as uncertainty about the economy led to tabling anticipated purchases and shuffling monies around established accounts to keep the town's portion of the tax levy for the proposed budget the same as last year.
“To keep the rate the same, we don't have the fund balance,” James Lunkenheimer, Ira town supervisor, said. He had been able to trim about $7,000 off the total proposed budget but was confused about where else to look.
“It's got me buffaloed, I'll admit it,” he said. “We have some unexpended fund balances, but they're nice to have.”
He referred to $40,000 set aside in a fund for trucks and an unencumbered fund balance of $135,402, which is usually a buffer in most municipalities against unforseen expenses.
“There are just so many uncertainties,” Lunkenheimer said. “There was not a lot of wiggle room in the 2008 budget,” he said. “Revenues weren't underestimated.”
In addition, the town's biggest source of income is sales taxes, and the outlook in that area is grim.
The board decided to take $30,000 out of the truck fund and one third of the unappropriated funds, or $105,000 in order to balance the budget without a change in the levy for the town.
Taxes will still go up because properties were revalued and the fire department rate of 1.30 percent will increase. The percentage of tax for the town's portion, however, will be the same as last year.
In other news:
* The town resolved to apply for the Farmland Protection Grant which could garner $25,000 for the town.
* The board heard requests for variances by Karen and Gray Donahue and Charles and Lisa Burns about putting up mobile homes that were older than five years old. There was some question as to whether homeowners had to apply for the variance or the property owner where the homes would go. The code enforcement officer, Roger Baldwin, said they needed to go to the planning board with the request and he would help them with the procedure as they were anxious to move before winter.
* Staffing for the recycling center and permits for trash were discussed. Keeping people from dumping without a permit was emphasized, so present staff is necessary.
* Joint meetings with Victory regarding cap agreement were discussed and tabled.
* Quotes for the town hall's heating system were discussed. Currently, several areas are heated with different sources because the building had been subdivided into separate businesses. Three separate bids for different areas were in but the board needed more time to compare. They tabled the issue until the next meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
“To keep the rate the same, we don't have the fund balance,” James Lunkenheimer, Ira town supervisor, said. He had been able to trim about $7,000 off the total proposed budget but was confused about where else to look.
“It's got me buffaloed, I'll admit it,” he said. “We have some unexpended fund balances, but they're nice to have.”
He referred to $40,000 set aside in a fund for trucks and an unencumbered fund balance of $135,402, which is usually a buffer in most municipalities against unforseen expenses.
“There are just so many uncertainties,” Lunkenheimer said. “There was not a lot of wiggle room in the 2008 budget,” he said. “Revenues weren't underestimated.”
In addition, the town's biggest source of income is sales taxes, and the outlook in that area is grim.
The board decided to take $30,000 out of the truck fund and one third of the unappropriated funds, or $105,000 in order to balance the budget without a change in the levy for the town.
Taxes will still go up because properties were revalued and the fire department rate of 1.30 percent will increase. The percentage of tax for the town's portion, however, will be the same as last year.
In other news:
* The town resolved to apply for the Farmland Protection Grant which could garner $25,000 for the town.
* The board heard requests for variances by Karen and Gray Donahue and Charles and Lisa Burns about putting up mobile homes that were older than five years old. There was some question as to whether homeowners had to apply for the variance or the property owner where the homes would go. The code enforcement officer, Roger Baldwin, said they needed to go to the planning board with the request and he would help them with the procedure as they were anxious to move before winter.
* Staffing for the recycling center and permits for trash were discussed. Keeping people from dumping without a permit was emphasized, so present staff is necessary.
* Joint meetings with Victory regarding cap agreement were discussed and tabled.
* Quotes for the town hall's heating system were discussed. Currently, several areas are heated with different sources because the building had been subdivided into separate businesses. Three separate bids for different areas were in but the board needed more time to compare. They tabled the issue until the next meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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