Mayor: Taxes won't increase

Margo Frink 03/23/09

The budget process is in full swing and tentatively the tax rate is not expected to increase for Canastota homeowners. Mayor Todd Rouse who also serves as the village’s budget officer said all the figures are not yet finalized but taxpayers will not see a tax rate increase. Village residents paid $10.89 per $1,000 of home assessed value last year.

Major factors in the budget include reports from the county that sales tax revenue is down 50 percent. Mortgage taxes and interest income are also down, he said.

“I had to error on the side of caution,” Rouse said. Taxpayers may not be affected this year by the drop in revenue but may be affected next year, he said.

The village’s overall expenses are slightly lower, mainly because the village went to long-term bonding. Although individual department spending could be higher, Rouse said it will all balance out in the end.

A new police car and mandated upgrades to the police department’s computer system and a new lawnmower for the DPW are capital expenses expected to be funded this year.
Street paving was included in the budget. Prospect and Anderson streets will be paved and sections of other streets will be cut out and paved.

“I put $80,000 in [the budget for paving] plus $60,000 to $70,000 in CHIP (County Highway Improvement Program) money,” Rouse said. “Last year we probably spent closer to $200,000 and got half of the roads done from the year before. I think it would be a mistake to cut down on paving streets.”

Rouse added that Peterboro Street is the state Department of Transportation’s responsibility and Roberts, Main and Canal streets are now under the county’s jurisdiction when it comes to repairs.

The village has had banked $175,000, received as reimbursement from the county by the state for any lost tax revenue due to the Oneida Indian Nation’s non-collection of sales tax. Villages and school districts had to sign an agreement that if required to do so, would pay back the money.

“Between the village and the school district you’re looking at $1 million,” Rouse said.

The board agreed that it would be beneficial to taxpayers if the village could utilize that money without having to pay it back. Rouse said he would use the money for roads or some other capital project.

“The villages and schools are the only ones losing out,” Rouse said. “The towns are whole, the counties are whole.”

In other news

Village Administrator Larry Carpenter presented a print out of the village’s manhole covers. He said all the data has been put into the village’s Geographic Information System and mapped. Access to water mains, sewer lines (excluding laterals) and hydrants can be viewed on the system.

Village Historian David Sadler said the state’s Association of Public Historian’s has requested a piece of quilt from villages for a state quilt project. He said the Canastota Canal Town Quilters will submit a piece, with the village and town seal on it at no charge.

An additional $1,340 was transferred from contingency to the snow removal capital because the cost of salt was higher this year than last.

The board will meet again April 6 at 7 p.m.

CATEGORY: Government
TAGS: Todd Rouse,Larry Carpenter,CHIP,Oneida Indian Nation
EDITION: Canastota Bee-Journal