The three pillars of the town of Guilderland — town government, the Guilderland Public Library and Guilderland Schools — were all topics of discussion in the second Guilderland State of The Town address at the Friday, Jan. 6, meeting of the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce.
Guilderland Town Supervisor Ken Runion described the state of the town as “stable and better times are ahead.” He explained that while the Town of Guilderland is in good shape, there are issues to be faced in 2012.
In 2009, sales tax revenue decreased to less than $10 million but has rebounded in 2011 to the $10 million mark, which has been the normal level. By comparison the property tax is approximately $800,000.
Runion highlighted accomplishments made in 2011, such as the streamlining of the zoning review process. He also touted a zero percent increase in employee salaries over the last two years, and a 20 percent reduction in the number of clerical employees since 2000.
“Property values in the town have been steady with a 1 percent to 2 percent increase over the past two years. This compares well with other areas that have seen property values decrease”, said Runion.
The town expects building activity to increase in 2012. Runion invited the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce and the business community to give their input to the Town Board.
Mark Grimm, whose term on the Town Board ended days ago, asked Runion a question about “NYS retirement appearing for the first time on my tax bill.”
“This is an increased mandate expense imposed upon the town by the state for employee pensions,” Runion replied.
Nick Seefeld, the Chamber’s chairman for the First Friday Breakfasts, introduced the next speaker, Superintendent of the Guilderland Central School District Marie Wiles.
Wiles expressed appreciation for the community’s support in last May’s budget vote.
“We are genuinely thankful to all of the people who participated last winter and spring in our community conversations about our spending plan,” said Wiles. “We are continuing and expanding that approach in the current cycle.”
“The school district spent some time last spring and this fall reexamining its mission and vision and as a result, the board adopted new visions and goals to guide all of our work”, said Wiles.
Wiles outlined the district’s mission to the community and its students, and told the crowd how the district will be meeting that charge in the future, especially in tough fiscal times.
“We are in the process of developing a budget that meets the needs of our students and stays within the tax levy limit,” Wiles said.
The estimated tax levy limit increase for the coming year is 2.57 percent, leaving an estimated $3.3 million revenue shortfall.
Wiles concluded with an optimistic note. “The financial pain we are in provides an opportunity to define what we really need,” she said.
Mike Horelick, a town resident, raised a question for Wiles. He noted that on a trip to England many young people were more fluent in languages other than their own, and he asked what Wiles saw as the trend in the U.S. regarding foreign language education.
Wiles responded that Guilderland values foreign language learning and the community should keep pressure on the education system to promote foreign language study. Guilderland offers four languages but had to discontinue foreign language at the elementary level due to budget restrictions.
Public Library Director Barbara Nichols Randall addressed the state of the Guilderland Public Library.
“If I had to choose one phrase to describe the library it would be ‘jam-packed.’” said Randall with an air of excitement. “In the past year we have squeezed more materials, programs and people into the Library than in any previous year.”
The Library is open seven days a week, 11 hours each weekday and 11 hours on the weekend. 197 people an hour come through the doors and over 2,100 people visit on weekdays, on average.
The library has been forced to withdraw an older item for each new item added.
“Our collection currently stands at almost 200,000 items or six items per capita which is the recommended size for a medium-sized library,” said Randall
192 community groups used the meeting rooms this year, and tutors held over 1,000 tutoring sessions in the library.
A construction program is to add a slight expansion to the library, repaving of the parking lot, a drive-up book drop and three or more geothermal wells.
The wells will eventually allow the facility to use geothermal energy for heating and cooling. The library’s solar panels have saved 40,500 kWh of electricity, or the equivalent of two and one half weeks of electrical use each year.
President Guilderland Chamber of Commerce Kathy Burbank, closed the meeting. Burbank thanked the Crossgates Mall for sponsoring the breakfast event. She noted that additional retail stores are opening in the mall as well as at other locations in town and she was optimistic the town will continue to grow.
