Employee raises among concerns raised at public hearing
Half a dozen Bethlehem residents all aired different concerns at a recent public hearing on the tentative 2011 town budget, but they all shared the same message: take a conservative view on the future.
Wednesday, Oct. 27, was the first formal opportunity for members of the public to voice their opinion on the roughly $40 million spending plan, but with board members still negotiating their differences of opinion it’s likely there will be changes, perhaps even significant ones, before a budget is adopted. The deadline to do so is Nov. 20.
The board has already met for one budget workshop since the tentative budget was released, and is scheduled to meet again on Monday, Nov. 1. A major topic of discussion has been whether employees will see raises, and where the tax levy will be set.
The tentative budget prepared by Supervisor Sam Messina includes a 1 percent cost of living increase for employees (police would have a contractual 2.5 percent raise), and would raise the tax levy by 1.8 percent, or nearly $170,000.
Some board members want that formula changed. Councilman Kyle Kotary, in particular, is pushing for no COLAs and a flat tax rate.
Resident Norman Morand, speaking at the public hearing, said he attended the previous budget workshop and listened to this plan with interest.
I very seldom agree with Kyle, but I listened to Kyle the other night and he made a lot of sense to me, Morand said.
A GE retiree, Morand argued his pension and the benefits of those subsiding on social security have not increased anytime recently. Taxes are steadily eating up more and more of his fixed income, he said.
`That’s all I see, is a tax increase from the town, a tax increase from the county,` he said. `There has to be some end to this.`
Such pleas to dial back the budget were echoed by several other speakers.
`My sister works for Manhattan College. She did not get a cost of living increase last year, and she’s is not getting a cost of living increase this year,` said Jared King. `That is how the private sector is dealing with the economic situation.`
The budget also levies a set of new fees that would raise an expected $220,00 for the town. Included are a false alarm fee for the police department and an increase in dog licensing fees. The Parks and Recreation Department would also increase fees and make other changes for an estimated $22,000 in revenue.
Included in those changes would be increased fees for field usage for $7,000 in revenue. Scott Bonanno objected to these changes, calling it unfair to levy them on a class of users.
`It’s specifically targets youth-based organizations,` he said.
Director of Parks and Recreation Nan Lanahan said fees would be increased for youth nonprofit organizations and adult leagues. They haven’t been raised since the town instituted fees in 2007, and the cost of maintaining the fields (materials and labor) has risen since then.
But it wasn’t just the often-controversial topics of raises, taxes and fees that drew public comment. The tentative budget includes a spending plan for the next few years that lays out how the town should borrow and spend on upcoming projects. Messina had previously called it a capital plan, but on Wednesday admitted it doesn’t quite reach that level.
`It was probably stating a bit more than I should have that we have a capital plan in our budget, but we do have a capital component,` he said.
Resident Bob Jazinski said while bonding for big projects is a good idea, he warned against going overboard on borrowing.
`You can’t bond everything. As you bond every year you’re going to have an increase in those costs,` he said. `That all adds up to a certain amount a year that you have to pay.`
The board has already reached a tacit agreement to pay all pension contribution costs this year rather than spread some of the cost out over the next five years and pay interest, a plan included in the tentative budget. Still, the 2011 plans calls for borrowing $1.4 million next year.
Albany County Comptroller Michael Conners spoke during the public hearing of research with the Vilalge of Menands and City of Cohoes to go through the county for bonding infrastructure projects. If it’s found to be possible and legal, such a plan might create more favorable borrowing scenarios.
Conners praised the town for keeping money in reserves. The 2011 county budget is calling for a 15 percent tax hike and massive spending cuts.
`I thought it was a balanced budget, I thought it was creative,` Conners said of the town budget. `Maybe we’ll ask you to borrow some money.`
But the town’s reserve funds remain an issue of contention. Messina has proposed using the part of the fund balance to cover an expected deficit this year that’s largely due to less than expected sales tax receipts. Some on the Town Board have argued that money should be kept in the bank and the gap should be closed by cutting money from the 2011 budget.
The issue will likely be discussed at the upcoming Nov. 1 meeting, which will be at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.“
