SAUGERTIES, N.Y. – Village trustees are reviewing a proposed $3.41 million 2024-25 budget carrying a 32.85% property tax levy increase of $628,782.
The spending plan was released Monday during a Village Board meeting.
Officials reported the tax rate per $1,000 assessed valuation would be $5, for a 4.33% increase of 21 cents. The wide difference between the tax levy and tax rate changes is based on new construction and assessment updates.
Under the budget, there would be a $399,590 jump in expenses, up 13.26%. Mayor Bill Murphy said that building expenses and park maintenance costs are the most significant changes.
“Our buildings have been neglected over the past years and now we have a new building supervisor in,” he said.
“We also found out … in previous years they were under-budgeted,” Murphy said. “Especially when it came to paying Central Hudson bills and utilities … somehow we managed and made it through the end of the year, but it seems like last year, they were way underestimated.”
Parks expenditures are proposed at $189,574, a 210.78% increase of $128,574; while building costs are drafted at $310,000, a 103.93% increase of $157,984.
The largest proposed decrease in the budget is street maintenance at $550,693, or a 32.47% decrease of $264,732. Officials said those expenses are being offset by state highway aid of $222,000.
Street lighting is proposed at $95,000, a 90% increase of $45,000.
“A lot of them are light-sensored and you see them on during the day,” Murphy said. “Some of the sensors aren’t working correctly and they’re getting neglected. So that’s something we’re looking into fixing.” Murphy said that sensors by the trees need to be looked at because “sometimes a tree shades it and locks the sensor on.”
Board salaries are proposed for mayor at $12,500, a 22.55% increase of $2,300; and six trustees at $4,800 each, for a 33.33% increase of $1,200.
“(Trustees) haven’t had a raise in 13 years,” village Treasurer Paula Kerbert said.
The increase in the mayor’s salary, the first in 15 years, was not part of Murphy’s initial recommendation. “The board requested I get a raise,” he said.
Other changes in the budget include:
• Employee benefits at $420,000, a 40% increase of $120,000.
• Bond repayments of principal at $420,000, for a 50.51% increase of $120,000; and bond interest costs at $62,557, a 102.09% increase of $31,602.
• Snow removal at $292,000, a 37.74% increase of $80,000.
• Fire Department at $158,091, a 12.74% increase of $17,871.
• Code enforcement at $132,478, a 5.03% decrease of $7,019.
• Installment payments for purchases at $112,000, a 21.87% decrease of $31,355; and
• Court costs at $96,700, for a 4.29% increase of $3,974.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with the tax rate per $1,000 assessed valuation and to correct that Murphy’s salary has not changed in 15 years.
