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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-10-30-PH Town of Ulysses Public Hearing October 30, 2013 Audio available at http : //www. ulysses . ny . us/council/tbmeetings/ Present : Supervisor Elizabeth Thomas ; Councilpersons Lucia Tyler, Nancy Zahler, David Kerness, and Kevin Romer; and Town Clerk; Marsha Georgia. Others Present : Heinz Riederer and Sue Sheerer Supervisor Thomas called the meeting to order and read the following statement : My name is Elizabeth Thomas and I am the Supervisor for the Town of Ulysses. I am conducting tonight's public hearing on behalf of the Town Board of Ulysses . I'd like to introduce the other members of the Town Board : David Kerness, Lucia Tyler, Kevin Romer and Nancy Zahler and our Town Clerk, Marsha Georgia . The subject of this public hearing is the 2014 preliminary budget. Copies of the preliminary budget are available by the door. The date of this PH was set by resolution of the Town Board on October 22 , 2013 and a notice of this hearing was published in the Ithaca Journal on October 25 , 2013 . To summarize : • The TB is extremely aware of the terrific tax burden on property owners in NYS . Our aim is to stay below the tax cap, but expenses and revenues are unpredictable. Ironically the state imposed the tax cap, but state funding comes from income tax. For schools in particular, the NYS part of their funding has decreased leaving them to either cut personnel, programs and/or raise property taxes . • To compare o Ulysses = $ 1 . 23 / 1000 - o EMS/Fire for Ulysses = $ 1 . 29/ 1000 o County taxes proposed for 2014 = $ 6 . 93 o Schooltaxesfor2013 / 14 = $ 19 . 69/ 1000 • Beginning in September, Department Heads review past spending and provide their budget requests to the Supervisor. Bookkeeper and Supervisor work with numbers to produce a tentative budget. I could see the tax rate would be way too high and would need adjustments . • I presented the tentative budget to the TB and together we worked to cut expenses for 2014 to come up with what we have now. • EMS and fire has increased by 14%. Health insurance is expected to increase by 8%. Together these account for 62% of our total levy • We cut costs by reducing funding going into reserves for bridge, maintenance, retirement, employee benefits , capital projects and recreation and increasing use of capital reserves . This strategy is short sighted and in future years, the town must increase set asides for these reserves particularly for new equipment for the highway department since many pieces of machinery are in need of replacement over the next several years . • Towns can budget closely to their expected needs but there are unexpected events that occur, such as above average snowfalls , flooding that causes damage above and beyond what is expected, contributions to hydrilla control, spinoff costs to prepare for the potential of gas drilling, etc . In addition, towns cannot always foresee revenues coming from sales tax, or mortgage taxes (based on real estate sales). Further complicating the equation is not knowing when revenues will be available . • When the snow is falling in January , a town needs operating funds to make sure the roads are kept clear whether the state funding has come through yet or not. • The tax levy is the amount of money needed to be raised by property tax and the levy is what NYS requires towns to cap (unless overridden) . The tax rate is the tax levy, divided by the total assessed value of the town's property . • Looking at tax levy 0 Total budget is $2 . 6million . The tax levy of $983 ,416 has increased by 3 . 74% from 2013 . Fire/ EMS increased by 11 . 67% and the rest of our town spending decrease by1 . 7% 2014 TAX LEVY 2014 levy 2013 levy % change Levy - Fire/EMS 430,796 385, 771 11 .67% Levy - other 552, 620 562, 162 - 1 .70 % TOTAL LEW 983 ,416 947,933 3 . 74% • The tax rate ( levy I taxable assessed value) increased by 4 . 82% with Fire/EMS increasing by - 14% . and the rest of the town spending decreasing by 3 . 36%. ,. 2014TAX RATES 2014 2013 % Change General Townwide 1 . 2299 1. 2726 -3 . 36% Fire & EMS 1 . 2909 1 . 1322 14 . 01 % • total Town 2 . 5207 2 . 4048 4 . 82% • An average home in Ulysses is assessed at $ 170,000 . The total taxes (fire 'and ems included is $428 . 52 and increase of $ 19 . 71 over 2013 . To compare : o Ulysses tax rate alone = $ 1 . 23 / 1000 - $ 209 on a $ 170K home . o EMS/Fire for Ulysses = $ 1 . 29/ 1000 - $ 219 o County taxes proposed for 2014 = $ 6 . 93 - $ 1 , 178 o School taxes for 2013 / 14 = $ 19 . 69/ 1000 - $ 3 , 347 The purpose of this public hearing is to afford the general public an opportunity to make statements and comments about the preliminary budget. To allow for a smooth and fair process and to ensure everyone who wants to speak is heard , this will not be a question and answer session although if there is a question , the board can decide to answer after all the comments are heard . The hearing will remain open until all members of the public who are present have been given an opportunity to speak. Comments presented at this hearing will be taken into consideration by the town board when it considers action on the preliminary budget. The Town is currently scheduled to take action on the budget on November 12 , 2013 here at the Town Hall of the Town of Ulysses . If any change to this plan is needed , it will be discussed and decided at another board meeting . I request that speakers sign in on the sheet by the door. Those wishing to speak are asked to speak loudly and clearly . Each speaker will have 3 minutes to make their comments. I will give a signal when one minute of time remains . For the record, I would ask the Town Clerk add to the record, the public notice of this meeting that appeared in the Ithaca Journal on October 25 , 2013 along with the Preliminary budget. I would now invite speakers to raise their hand if they would like to make a statement. Please observe rules of common courtesy . Proof of publication was furnished from the Ithaca Journal . Copy of the Preliminary 2014 Budget is available on line and in the Clerk ' s Office . COMMENTS Heinz Riederer said to review a budget of this nature cannot be done in ten to fifteen minutes . The increase of this budget leads to an all most 5 % increase in taxes and is way over the inflation rate . He is sure there is still room for some more cuts . Property owners just don ' t pay these taxes but they also pay County and School . Sue Sheerer — said she was not certain how the routine of the public hearing went and she also does not understand the ibudget and what is included in each line expense. Ms . Sheerer had questions and concerns about the youth budget and the youth programming. The public hearing was closed at 7 : 48 PM . Respectively submitted, Marsha L . Georgia