Village Board works on municipal budget

MILLBROOK —   A meeting for the 2017-18 budget was held at Village Hall on Thursday, May 4. A preliminary budget shared on April 24 showed revenue of $1.6 million, but expenses of $1.7 million, a deficit of $99,000 in the A fund. 

The F fund, or water fund, had a revenue of $277,000, with expenses listed at $224,000, an increase of $53,000. The G fund boasted $325,000, with expense listed at $311,000, showing a plus of $14,000.

The first public hearing showed the tax levy to be $932,000, but on May 4 it was reduced to $920,000. Mayor Rodney Brown said this will satisfy the 1 percent tax cap because the levy hasn’t been raised in the two prior years. The A fund expenses exceeded revenue, but Brown said $17,000 in revenue in the F fund, could be used to offset the A fund deficit.

As far as salaries go, the mayor earns $12,000 per year; Deputy Mayor Joe Rochfort earns $5,000 per year; trustees Brian Hicks and Mike Herzog each earn $4,800 per year. The budget allows for one more trustee; the village is currently seeking a qualified candidate.

In regard to the general fund, real property taxes in 2016 were $905,000. This remained constant in 2017, but $920,000 is the estimated for 2018, an increase of 1.65 percent. 

The total general A fund in 2015 was $1,811,628.42; in 2016 it was $1,619,764.64. The original 2017 budget amount was $1,536,520; the recommended amount for 2018 is $1,599,780, a variance of 4.12 percent.

One change was to the police budget, which will go from fewer than 60 hours per week to seven days of 12-hour days; an added 25 hours per week at $20 to $22 hourly. It will raise the budget by $25,000. 

A 3 percent cost of living increase was asked for. Employees have received a 5 percent increase per year for the past two years. 

The mayor said the raises were merit-based. All salary matters are handled in executive sessions. 

Brown has stated that he wants to start paying off the capital on bonds and not just pay the interest, to bring village debt down. He has worked extensively with the village clerk and the trustees to make sense of village funds. 

There is an unfilled board seat open at present that would expire as of Dec. 31, 2018. Anyone interested should submit a letter of intent to the mayor.