With no other plans, supervisor says defeated budget will be adopted by Nov. 20 deadline
The Town of Guilderland is in a sort of budget limbo after a proposed budget was voted down 3-2 at this evening’s Town Board meeting.
According to Supervisor Ken Runion, the development means that his budget proposal will be adopted by the town in by a Nov. 20 adoption deadline.
After the meeting, he said while there is clearly opposition to the plan, no alternatives have been presented. If at least three votes can’t be found for an alternative budget, he said, the proposal voted down tonight will be adopted.
They didn’t come in [to budget workshops] with any kind of modifications or changes, Runion said after the meeting. He indicated his door would be open to board members in coming days.
When the vote was tallied and the supervisor declared his budget would go on the books, no significant objection was raised by board members. Councilman Warren Redlich, who opposed the budget, said he disagreed with the idea there was not enough time to schedule another public hearing.
`You disagree with a lot of things, but you’re not correct,` replied Runion.
The Town Board does meet again before the adoption deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
A public hearing before tonight’s vote, however, garnered no speakers. Board members were left to provide commentary on the plan, and those opposing the budget attacked various elements.
Like this year’s budget, Runion’s $30.5 million plan for 2011 includes no increase in the town’s general tax rate ` it would remain at 26 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. A home valued at $200,000 would receive a bill from the town for $52 in general town tax. Water and sewer taxes would see a slight increase.
But unlike last year there would be no across-the-board raise for employees. Some would receive contractual pay increases for five, 10 or 15 years of service. Some purchases and projects would be deferred to save money.
The budget also dips into town’s $10.4 million in savings to avoid a tax increase. Redlich said using over $1.8 million of that sum is irresponsible considering the rapidly increasing pension and healthcare costs the town will have to continue shouldering in the future.
`We’re not doing anything to prepare for that other than drawing out of our bank accounts,` he said.
Councilman Mark Grimm also opposed the budget, and called its sales tax projection of $10 million `rosy.`
`We have some pretty strong evidence that sales tax number is inflated,` he said, referencing this year’s underperforming tax receipts.
Runion said with the third quarter looking up, the town still might realize close to the $10 million of sales taxes budgeted for this year. Keeping that number flat is a recognition of the fact Guilderland has grown and will probably receive a bigger cut of the taxes after the distribution formula is refigured with 2010 census data.
He also argued the economic recession the perfect time to use the town’s savings.
Councilman Paul Pastore`who supported the budget in last year’s 3-2 approval ` also cast a `no` vote, and said he’s concerned about the plan given the uncertainty of union contract negotiations.
Councilwoman Patricia Slavick voted in favor of the budget without offering any comments.
Check back to spotlightnews.com or read the print edition of The Spotlight for more on the budget process.
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