Supervisor’s Blog

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Supervisor Bob Cliffe

FISCAL 2012 BUDGET APPROVED

When I was elected two years ago, Wheatfield was bleeding money. I am happy to say that, the Town is now operating at a responsible level. This is, first, a balanced budget which takes advantage of increased sales tax revenues to eliminate deficits, to meet necessary additional expenses while substantially reducing taxes. All this is done with an eye on the new 2% tax cap and how this cap will affect the Town of Wheatfield’s budget in future years.

There are financial pressures. Increases in expenses include a $40,000 increase in the cost of health insurance as well as a $35,000 increase in our retirement plan. The Sheriff is seeking almost $11,000 more for our deputy, and library services will be $23,000 more than last year. Perhaps more important, I recognize that we have to make our Highway Department budget whole again; my predecessor chose to borrow the monies needed to do General Repairs. I’ve added $150,000 to that line bringing it closer to where we need to be to maintain our streets. We also need to keep our Highway equipment up to date so we have additional funds in our equipment line. I’ve also put in $10,000 to resume the traditional firework display at Oppenheim Park, and $10,000 for printing hoping to send out the good news of the Town a couple of times in 2012.

We have one remaining fund with a deficit: our Fire Protection fund. At the beginning of 2010 this line was $216,000 in the red, and then we had an increase in or our fire contract of $85,000. By the end of 2011 that gap will be closing and, with an added tax of $86,000 in 2012, by the end of 2012, I anticipate the Fire Protection fund to be whole again.

We do not yet know exactly what our expenses will be in the Refuse nor Lighting funds. I anticipate that there will be an increase in refuse and have added some funding there. I hope that I am slightly overestimating the expense, it would be nice to have a small fund balance even in the refuse account. With our new contract next year, I hope to take the opportunity to really upgrade recycling which will reduce our future refuse expenses while helping us do our part for our environment.

By taking advantage of increased sales tax I am proposing that we reduce the highway tax by a quarter of a million dollars. To keep taxes to the minimum, I am also recommending that we reduce Sewer expenses sufficiently to hold the line with sewer taxes this year. We can review water and sewer rates after we have completed our year-end statement for New York State. I do not anticipate needing much, if any increase in these rates.

Bottom line is that, for a typical homeowner with an assessed value of $125,000, I propose a tax decrease of $20.78.

I feel that this is a responsible budget for the people of Wheatfield. We offer all necessary services as well as a robust recreation and parks program for all Wheatfield residents, young , old and in between. We are now back in the black, in control of expenses, looking forward to a better future together.