Koetzle: Union concessions could help lower 2011 tax hike
Glenville residents might end up paying a little more in taxes than they first expected due to an unforeseen expense.
During the Glenville Town Board Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 20, Supervisor Christopher Koetzle announced the tentative budget would raise residential taxes to a 4.5 percent increase. The change accounts for another police vehicle being added to the budget and reducing funds received from the New York State School Tax Relief program, known as STAR.
Councilman Alan Boulant said the additional police car was added to the budget because a car the board was hoping to get another year of use out of recently blew up. He said originally all the board members were in favor of funding for one additional vehicle. Chief of Police Michael Ranalli had requested funding for three vehicles in the 2011 budget.
`I continue to get letters and e-mail from primarily employees indicating that they don’t know how we can make some of the decisions we make and don’t understand how it really has an impact,` said Koetzle. `These two little, tiny items alone bring our effective rate from 3.8 to 4.5 [percent], so it does have an impact. I’m not saying that we don’t need the police car. I’m not saying that I don’t support it, but it has an impact and it creeps up pretty quick.`
The additional police car added $24,000 to the budget and the reduction of funds from STAR for the budget decreased revenues by $10,400. The town’s proposed budget for 2011 totals $11.7 million and a total of $1.1 million would be taken from the town’s fund balance. One full-time and one part-time position are planned to be eliminated and two full-time positions are also planned to be reduced to part-time positions.
`We have a math problem in the town, much like other towns` said Koetzle. `The revenues aren’t there to support the expenses and we have to make some of these hard choices. We have to make the choices where they are going to have the least service impact and that’s what this budget I believe does.`
One area Koetzle is hoping to find savings is through union concessions. Final negotiations on a contract with unions would have to be reached by the approaching Nov. 3 deadline.
` I am very hopeful, but time is not our friend right now,` said Koetzle after the meeting. `There has been a give and take. Every time that happens it has to be evaluated and has to be looked at and it has to be something that is affordable and makes sense.`
There was a meeting with two of three unions and town officials on Monday, Oct. 18, said Koetzle during the meeting. The unions were provided with the current information on 2011 rates and options. Also, the different actions and alternatives the town has looked at in health insurance were discussed. Town Attorney Michael Cuevas and Town Director of Operations James MacFarland were present on behalf of the town at the meeting, said Koetzle.
`It was a productive meeting and going forward hopefully we will bear some fruit of that meeting,` said Koetzle.
Union contracts have been expired for nearly two years in the town and unions haven’t seen a pay raise for a similar amount of time. Koetzle said if unions are able to negotiate concessions with the town then he plans to provide them with raises.
`My hope is that we are going to be able to achieve some savings in the budget, still provide the unions with some raises and still provide the tax payers with some relief,` said Koetzle after the meeting.
With state mandated costs increasing, Koetzle said union concessions on health insurance is one way the town can realize savings. Health insurance premiums are expected to rise by 15 percent for 2011, which totals an additional $275,000 in expenses.
`That line (health insurance) is the only place we are going to achieve the savings we need and that line is blowing up faster than every other line,` said Koetzle.“
