Village Board outlines preliminary budget; seeks resident input

Village Board outlines preliminary budget; seeks resident inputJan Nolis, who is performing accounting services for the Village of Owego, looks on as the preliminary budget is presented Monday evening. (Photo by Wendy Post)

At Monday’s meeting of the Village of Owego Board, held in the Legislative Auditorium at 56 Main St. in Owego, approximately 30 residents arrived for a presentation of the village’s preliminary budget, which will be worked on and then voted on by the end of June.

With early numbers from department heads reflecting the need for a 24 percent increase in taxes to maintain current services, the board was seeking input from residents regarding the two percent tax cap imposed on municipalities and whether it should be exceeded. The board also wanted to learn, from residents, what services they want to see remain; and if they want to keep taxes flat, what services should be consolidated and / or eliminated.

Currently, properties in Owego are taxed $18.90 per 1,000 of assessed value; for the upcoming budget, properties would need to be taxed at $23.45 per thousand, for a 24 percent increase if the same amount of village services is to be maintained. 

Trustee Nick Ruiz stated, prior to the meeting, that the presentation and numbers shown reflect the challenges that the village is facing.

”We, the board, feel very strongly as the budget looks now, it is not sustainable or affordable,” said Ruiz, adding, “The public needs to know what it costs for the services we provide, and we need them to be aware so they can provide feedback to us on what they would like us to do with the budget as we make revisions.”

Some options mentioned in the budget presentation included NY Rising money available for a joint Clerk Treasurer and Department of Public Works building that would be located out of the immediate flood plain.

The board also spoke of the Sweet Fund, and noted that it will soon be out of money. The Sweet Fund is utilized for Emergency Medical Services in Owego. Billing for ambulance services was discussed as an option.

Jan Nolis, who was hired to do accounting for the Village, mentioned the depleting Sweet Fund, stating that as of July 2016 there was $30,000 remaining in unrestricted funds. 

During the meeting, which included a public comment session, Nolis also stated she is continuing to look over the village accounting books, and stated that everyone is burdened.

“I commend these guys for trying to keep things reigned in,” added Nolis, who is helping the Village get through several years of audits.

And although there wasn’t much public comment offered during the meeting, former trustee James Legursky spoke out more than once.

Legursky stated emphatically, during the public comment session, “You can keep your services but you’re [going] to have to pay for them.”

Theresa Gosart, Owego resident running for a Trustee seat in March, stated that the presentation of the budget only gave two choices – consolidate departments or face massive tax increases.  

She also added, in an effort to posture herself for a trustee seat, “It’s easy to get elected – it’s much harder to govern responsibly.”

But Ruiz countered this idea, stating, ”We, the board, feel very strongly as the budget looks now, it is not sustainable or affordable. The public needs to know what it costs though for the services we provide, and we need them to be aware so they can provide feedback to us on what they would like us to do with the budget as we make revisions.”

As stated earlier in this report, the current board has time to look at things and see where money can be trimmed, and they are requesting input from village residents. 

The presentation on the initial proposed budget is on the village website for the public’s review. You can find it at www.villageofowego.com/home/news/presentation-proposed-budgets-2018-2019.

“The budget will affect everyone,” added Ruiz, “and we would like everyone to have access to it.”

Mayor May, at the beginning of the budget presentation, stated, “No matter who is elected in March, they are going to have to deal with this.” 

The board, at Monday’s meeting, didn’t take a vote to override the tax cap, and will make that decision, if needed, as the budget process continues.

1 Comment on "Village Board outlines preliminary budget; seeks resident input"

  1. The current administration has been warning the tax payers about this for years now. The past administration kicked the can economically down the road and here we are. OPD and the Village Court should have been defunded and things would be fine.

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