Budget public hearing draws one participant

PINE PLAINS — It’s been a tough budget year for most towns throughout Dutchess County, and Pine Plains is no exception. Its projected budget for 2011 is anticipating a 5 percent tax levy increase, with a final budget figure of $1,578,000. That’s about a 4 percent increase in spending from last year’s fiscal plan, which is as good as it gets this year, according to town Supervisor Gregg Pulver.

“Usually I have a great feeling after doing the budget, because I can do more and more for the town [with that money],� he said. “But I feel good keeping the tax increase as low as I possibly can this year. I wish it was lower, but we were still able to do the programs we’ve always done and hopefully we can continue to do that.�

The 2011 budget provides for a lot. There’s room for a $24,000 bond for the townwide property revaluation that’s currently in the planning stages. There are provisions for a 30 percent projected increase in the town’s health insurance costs. The town drew the line at salary increases, of which there are none, for elected or salaried workers — the scenario is the same.

“There’s nothing fancy in this  budget,â€� Pulver said grimly, noting that the town is trying to keep up its programing at the same time it’s trying to trim its costs.

There is about $50,000 in new spending in the budget, though the town was prudent with where that money went. In addition to the assessor’s line for the reval, $7,000 was added to the library’s budget, bringing it up from $68,000 to $75,000. Ted Mallozzi, representing the library, was the only member of the community who appeared at the Thursday, Nov. 4, public hearing on the budget to request funds from the town.

The town also increased its contribution to the Recreation Department by $13,000. That budget line went from $78,000 to $91,000. Pulver said it’s important to remember that revenues also come in from investments made to the recreation program. This year the town also extended its program at the town beach; the beach opened one week earlier and closed one week later than it had in the past.

The budget also has a bond retiring for the sidewalk and street lighting project, although the town is leaving that money in the budget for the library and community center foundation. Pulver explained that the foundation, which raised roughly $1.5 million to buy the property and construct the new library and community center building, has been unable to raise the rest of the money owed, which amounts to roughly $1 million. The town is taking on that responsibility.

“Through no fault of their own donations dried up and we’re going to have to bond the rest of that project,â€� he said. “We would have never been able to build that building without the foundation, the library would have  been stuck in a dungeon. They would have been able to finish the project  but the recession hit, so we’re going to re-bond. Interest rates are the lowest they’ve been in history, so if there was ever a time for the town to borrow money it’s now.â€�

Pulver said he wanted to reassure the community that there will be plenty of public discussions about the topic, and “financial disclosures.� He also said the library will continue to fundraise throughout.

“By no shape or form did the foundation fail; they didn’t realize there would be a drastic downturn in the economy,� Pulver said. “We’re going to make this work and the taxpayers won’t see a huge bump in the road.�

The town is also in the process of doing a NYSERDA energy audit at municipal buildings.

“Everything we’re doing to try to stretch taxpayers’ dollars,� Pulver said.

The supervisor added that some of the biggest challenges are due to missed county and state budget deadlines; the longer it takes for those budgets to be adopted, the more difficult and frustrating it is for local municipalities.

The Town Board expects to vote to adopt the 2011 budget at its board meeting on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.