<!--Mark Scheer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Mark Scheer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com">mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Property owners in the Town of Lewiston would enjoy a slight decrease in taxes under the tentative 2010 budget presented this week by Supervisor Fred Newlin.
The proposed spending plan calls for total expenditures of $14.5 million next year, up from $14.1 million in 2009, for an increase of about 2.3 percent.
The proposal includes zero changes in the amounts to be charged to property owners for fire, sewer and refuse services and a slight decrease in the charge for water improvements. The budget plan represents the fifth consecutive year in which town residents would not be expected to pay any town tax.
By Newlin’s estimates, the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay a total of $350.07 in town service taxes next year compared to the same homeowner who paid $353.07 for services in 2009.
“Despite very difficult times that are affecting national, state and local governments, we are able to actually reduce overall taxes,” Newlin said.
“It’s very good considering the town got hit with increases in health insurance rates and has had to kick in more for employee retirement,” he added.
Newlin said funds from the town’s relicensing agreement with the New York Power Authority have helped stabilize the town’s finances, providing it with an annual source of revenue to offset costs for items like capital projects and road and parks improvements.
The town receives roughly $1.4 million from the power authority each year, with $850,000 in straight cash payments being used for capital projects, including roads and water lines. Newlin said another $510,000 in greenway money is available to support local parks improvements.
Newlin said the town currently has a reserve account of roughly $4 million, well within fund balance guidelines recommended by state finance officials.
“We have very strong reserves,” Newlin said. “All this has benefited us in that it has gotten us a better bond rating.”
The proposed budget contains nearly the same number of town employees as the 2009 budget. The majority of those employees will receive 3 percent hikes in salary as per their union contracts.
Newlin said his budget does call for the addition of another full-time officer for the police department, a position that was requested by Chief Chris Salada. The addition brings the total number of full-time officers in the department to 10 and Newlin said the extra help will be used to assist in patrols within the village.
Town board members are currently reviewing Newlin’s proposal. A public hearing on the budget will be scheduled for November. Board members must approve the final spending plan by Nov. 20.
