HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 Budget Narrative TOWN OF ULYSSES
10 Elm Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886
ulysses.ny.us
Town Supervisor (607) 387-5767, Ext 232 supervisor@ulysses.ny.us
Town Clerk (607) 387-5767, Ext 221 clerk@ulysses.ny.us
2023 Budget Narrative
On September 24, 2022, the Tentative Town Budget for 2023 was submitted to the Ulysses Town Board and the
Town Clerk by Budget Officer Michelle E. Wright. On October 25, 2022, the Town Board accepted the Preliminary
Budget for 2023 and scheduled a public hearing for November 8, 2022 at 7pm.
Ulysses is committed to delivering a budget that is mindful of continuing to provide high-quality services and
reflects investing in our human and physical assets in a sustainable, future-oriented manner. The Town Board did
not override the tax cap and was committed to keeping tax levy increases below that threshold.
Due to an increase in the overall value of property in Ulysses based on the March 2022 assessment, the 2023
Preliminary Budget decreases Town tax rates for property owners in the Village of Trumansburg by 4.85% and
the Town-outside-Village tax rates by 5.85%. (See page 3 for the different funds, services provided by those
funds, and the sources of revenue.)
The 2023 Preliminary Budget includes the following numbers at a glance: ➢ $4,166,828 in total spending is partially supported by $1,555,926 in property taxes representing 37.34% of the
total Town Budget. ➢ $237,190 in increased budgeted appropriations, 6.01% more than 2022. ➢ The overall tax levy is increasing in 2023 by $45,696. ➢ A 3.07% levy increase and 5.85% tax rate decrease for Town residents outside the Village of Trumansburg, and
an 4.17% levy increase and 4.85% tax rate decrease for Village of Trumansburg residents.
Economic Conditions Impacting the 2023 Preliminary Budget ➢ Emergency services are vital and increasingly expensive: The Town contracts for fire and ambulance services
through the Village of Trumansburg for properties in the Town-outside Village. Associated rates for services are
not controlled by the Town and are determined by the Village. Overall, fire and ambulance services account for
$676,308 of the preliminary 2023 budget, which equals 37.217% of the tax levy.
While the cost for fire protection in 2023 has decreased $2,888, or 1.26%, from the 2022 budget, ambulance
services have increased $34,533, or 8.32%, from 2022. The Town recognizes that it is not sustainable for the tax
base to absorb annual increases of this magnitude, and in 2023 will be exploring ways to reduce the burden to
our Town-outside Village residents.
➢ Mortgage and sales tax revenue estimations: Mortgage and sales tax are important Town revenue sources
that are not generated through the tax levy. In response to the changing and challenging regional, state and
national economic circumstances, the Town, led by the Finance Committee, has endeavored to more accurately
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estimate these revenue sources to reduce expenditures funded by property taxes. Mortgage tax estimates
account for $105,000, or 2.52% of the total 2023 budget, while sales tax estimates account for $746,517, or
17.92% of the total budget.
Priorities Reflected in the 2023 Preliminary Budget
➢ Staffing: Investment in the Town’s valued staff, including a 4% raise for all employees and improved health
care benefits for all benefits-eligible employees; funding for a part-time project assistant for the Planning, Zoning,
and Supervisor’s offices, as well as a part-time facilities project manager to oversee facility improvements and
upgrades.
➢ Highway: Maintenance and repair of roads and other highway assets; snow plowing; care and maintenance of
highway fleet.
➢Facilities: Maintenance and improvements to Town Hall, including the installation of an ADA-compliant door,
exterior repairs, and painting; improved security at the Town Barn.
➢Youth and Recreation: Increased programming for youth and adult recreation; increased capacity for student
enrollment in the Ulysses Summer Camp; job training for first-time youth employees; funding for no-cost youth
activities through C.C.E.’s Rural Youth Services Program.
➢Code, Planning and Zoning: Initiating the Comprehensive Plan update; increasing capacity in the
Planning/Zoning and Code Office with improved administrative support; sufficient legal support for enforcement
actions; purchasing a new electric vehicle.
➢ IT/Cybersecurity: Use of a portion of our American Recovery Plan Act funds to develop a strategic IT plan to
respond to 21st century cybersecurity threats, upgrade software to digitize and streamline Town records and
management, and respond to IT/cybersecurity deficiencies identified in by the 2022 NYS Comptroller’s audit.
➢Grant Capacity: Dedicated funds to hire grant and engineering assistance for a variety of identified grant-
eligible projects, including six bridges/culverts, facility upgrades, and multi-year capital plans; allows the Town to
be nimble and apply for grants with short turn-around times.
➢Water: Undertaking a Rural Water Study; formalizing existing water districts and supporting reasonable water
district expansions; radio head asset and software updating; water bill software upgrade; long-term planning for
town water sustainability; supporting regional partners addressing environmental issues related to source water
and the Cayuga Lake Watershed.
➢Community Funding: Support to a variety of significant local organizations providing public services, including
the Ulysses Philomathic Library, the Trumansburg Farmers’ Market, Trumansburg Community Recreation,
Trumansburg After School Program, and many other important service providers.
Respectfully submitted,
Katelin Olson, Town Supervisor
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Town Funds and Description
Fund Fund Expense Description Funding
A
“General
fund”
Town Board, Town Hall and Town Court staff salaries, Highway
Superintendent salary, benefits, all town-owned facilities costs, utilities,
communication and mailing costs, recreation programming, youth
programming, community, environmental services, legal costs.
Property Tax: Town and village
property owners.
B Building code officer salary, Zoning/Planning officer salary, benefits as
applicable, flood and erosion control administrative costs.
Funded primarily by sales tax. No
property tax is used.
DA Machinery costs, bridge maintenance, brush and weed control, snow
removal, highway staff salaries and benefits.
Property Tax: Town and village
property owners.
DB Highway maintenance, highway staff salaries and benefits. Funded primarily by sales tax and
state aid. No property tax is used.
Water
Districts
Water purchases, administrative costs, infrastructure and maintenance costs
SW3 = Water District 3
Property owners in the water
districts.
Fire/ EMS Fire (SF) and EMS (SM) services Property Tax: Town property owners,
outside the Village.
Other Lighting Property Tax: Town and village
property owners.
Definitions
• Tax levy: the number of dollars raised by property taxes
• Tax rate: property tax per $1000 of assessed value
o Tax Rate = (Total Tax Levy ÷ Ulysses Total Taxable Assessed Value) x 1000
o Examples:
a Town resident (outside of the Village and not located in a water district) whose home is
valued at $200,000 will have a Ulysses 2023 property tax bill of $493.40
• ($200,000 ÷ 1,000) x 2.4670 = $493.40
a Village resident whose home is valued at $200,000 will have a Ulysses 2023 property tax
bill of $241.63
• ($200,000 ÷ 1,000) x 1.2082 = $241.63
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A General
36%
DA Highway
16%B General Part-Town
10%
DB Highway Part-Town
11%
SF Fire Contract
6%
SM Emergency Medical
11%
SW1 Water District 1
<1%
SW2 Water District 2
<1%
SW3 Water
District 3
10%
SW4 Water District 4
<1%2023 Appropriations
By Fund
A General
28%
DA General
Highway
19%
SF Fire
Contract
15%
SM Emergency
Medical
23%
SW1 Water District 1
<1%
SW3 Water
District 3
15%
SW4 Water District 4
<1%2023
Property Tax
Revenue
by Fund
Property Tax
37%
Sales Tax
18%Department
Fees
9%
County, State,
Other
Governments
12%
Mortgage Tax
2%
Other
1%
Appropriated
Fund Balance
21%
2023
Projected
Revenue
by Source
2023 Appropriations
broken out by fund:
see the “Town Funds
and Description” table
for a description of the
nature of expenses in
each fund.
The 2023 Tax Levy
broken out by fund.
Estimated revenue for
the 2023 budget year
by source.
Page 4 of 4