Town officials kept next year’s proposed budget within its tax levy limit, but the spending plan holds a 35 percent increase in fund balance allocation.
Guilderland Supervisor Ken Runion submitted the preliminary 2015 town budget to little fanfare on Monday, Sept. 29. The proposed $33.32 million budget holds a property tax levy increase of 1.52 percent. It increases spending by 3.52 percent, or $1.13 million, while keeping taxes down through tapping $2.31 million from its fund balance. Projected revenues are increasing 2.21 percent, or nearly $429,000, and total $19.8 million.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated when Town Law requires a tentative budget to be filed with the town clerk, which is Sept. 30. Town Law also does not require a Town Board to approve a preliminary budget. Board members would only need to approve any changes or modifications to the tentative budget, if desired, before the preliminary budget is filed. Spotlight News regrets these errors and apologizes any confusion it may have caused.
“During my entire tenure we have had very conservative budgets, and I believe this one to be fiscally conservative as well,” said Runion. “We have done very well, and we still maintain the lowest tax rate in the county.”
Runion pointed to the town’s most recent fiscal stress score of 0 percent from the state Comptroller’s Office as proof of its strong financial health. The score was based off the fiscal year ending in 2013.
This year’s budget allocated almost $1.71 million from the town’s fund balance, but next year would see an additional $600,000 tapped. The overall fund balance has roughly $11 million, which exceeds typically recommended minimums.
“I usually feel very comfortable on the fund balances,” said Runion, “because over the last several years, while we have appropriated fund balance, I haven’t had to use it.”
Runion previously said the state Comptroller’s Office could criticize the town for its fund balances being too large, as opposed to the normal qualm of it being too low.
Part of the increase in fund balance appropriation stems from the upcoming roof work at Town Hall, estimated to cost $180,000. Capital improvements included in next year’s budget are not being bonded, according to Runion, so fund balances will be used to cover those added expenses.
The largest spending increase across all the town’s funds was in the Highway Part-Town Fund, which is increasing 3.2 percent and totals almost $4.6 million. Increasing fuel and blacktop material for paving roads is the largest cost driver, according to Runion.
Overall assessed value of property in the town has increased for new commercial construction and residential housing developments. The taxable value of properties in the town increased 1.39 percent and totals almost $3.05 billion in next year’s budget.
Board members held two budget workshops, which were open to the public, before the preliminary budget was filed this year. There was another workshop held after the board’s meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The Town Board must approve the budget by Nov. 20. If the board fails to approve it, then the preliminary budget becomes the budget for next year.
There was a two percent salary increase included for all town employees, said Runion, which includes elected officials. He said there were no layoffs included in the budget.
Salaries of the elected officials will be published in the legal notice for the Nov. 6 public hearing, which is required by law. The legal notice was scheduled to be posted on the town’s website after The Spotlight went to print.
Runion does not expect any major changes to the budget before its approval. The board planning to vote on the budget on Nov. 6 following its public hearing.
“I don’t believe any of the board members have any changes from what you see online,” he said.
This is the first time the “detail sheets” of the preliminary budget have been filed online. Only a summery of the budget was previously filed on the town’s website. Anyone can view the complete budget documentation at Town Hall.
“In the past we have had complaints we haven’t put the details on (the town website),” Runion said.
He said the detail sheets provide residents with a lot of information, allowing them to look at every line of the budget. It also provides some historical information, showing what actual budget lines have came in at for prior years.
