Richfield Supervisor Nick Palevsky presented the tentative budget
for the town’s 2006 fiscal year at a special Town Board meeting last
Monday.
Town tax rates for the general and highway funds are up 2.7 percent
from 2005, and appropriations for the general and highway funds are up
7.2 percent to $816,823. The total budget dollar amount is $855,870,
with a 2.7 percent tax rate increase.
In Palevsky’s budget narrative, he said he has “kept taxes in check
by budgeting realistically for non-property tax revenues and by
committing a portion of the town’s surpluses to 2006 expenses. For the
most part, I have accepted departmental budget requests as submitted by
the town highway superintendent, clerk, assessor and justices.”
The town’s general A fund, which covers administrative costs, has
dropped $550 to $265,623. The general B fund, which covers primarily
the town’s land use regulations and enforcement, had its appropriations
rise to $14,950 from $10,200 in 2005.
The highway DA fund pays the costs associated with keeping the roads
clear of snow, including labor, equipment, supplies (salt and sand),
fuel and repairs. Appropriations are up 3.9 percent to $240,800. “The
high price of fuel is the primary cause,” Palevsky stated in his
narrative.
Highway Superintendent Mike Kress said the price of diesel fuel has
not been so bad because they were able to lock in a price earlier in
the year. However, the price of gasoline fluctuates and has been more
expensive.
The town has reduced health insurance costs and state retirement
fund contributions “have finally leveled off after rising a remarkable
2,279 percent in the past five years,” according to Palevsky.
Appropriations for the highway DB fund, which pays to pave and
maintain town roads outside the village, are up 2.6 percent to
$260,450. “Here again, fuel and other petroleum based products are
driving the increase,” Palevsky said.
Palevsky, who is in his last year as supervisor, budgeted $35,000 in
2006 for machinery and equipment. “Since we are purchasing a new truck
this year, the highway superintendent (Kress) does not expect to spend
this money in 2006,” Palevsky said. “However, he does anticipate
another major truck expense within five years.”
Palevsky recommended, and Kress concurred, “that when taxes have
been collected in early 2006, this money be used to create a new
highway/truck reserve fund, and that a like amount be added yearly, to
provide for the anticipated future purchase.”
Palevsky also said he budgeted for the balance of the revaluation costs, which will come due in 2006.
The supervisor also set money aside to purchase the property behind
the town hall on Hotel Street. However, he did not budget to build an
addition to the town hall.
“Should the Town Board decide at a later date to build on this property, financing will need to be addressed,” Palevsky said.
The next Town Board meeting is Monday, when there will be public hearings on the proposed budget and zoning ordinance changes.
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