HUDSON–The Columbia County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s 2013 budget, which will result in a tax levy decrease of 0.4% from this year. The board voted for the budget’s adoption at the December 12 meeting.
The appropriations of next year’s budget total $155,251,604, an increase of approximately $10,500,000 from 2012. There is an increase of $5.2 million in the capital fund, much of which is attributed to the renovations to the Columbia County Courthouse. The general fund will see an increase of $3.7 million for a total of $106,636,000, with $2.2 million of that will split between increases in salaries and benefit costs. The highway fund will increase by $900,000.
The county estimates total revenues of $108,044,726 in 2013, a $9 million increase from the 2012. An appropriated fund balance of $7,057,256 will also be used.
The 2013 tax levy totals $40,149,622, a decrease of $152,000.
“This will be the third year in a row that we have a 0% or less tax levy,” said Columbia County Financial Controller Ron Caponera.
“I’d just like to thank everybody for all their work and input on the budget,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Pat Grattan (R-Kinderhook). “It’s a very tedious process, but it came out with a good result.”