VALATIE–The Town Board held a second special budget meeting this week and plan to finalize the 2015 town spending plan next week, with a public hearing Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Town Supervisor Pat Grattan said at the Tuesday, October 28 special meeting, that the board has to pass the budget by November 20.
The board worked with a proposed $982,948 general fund and a $1.6-million highway budget proposal. There is also a fund called the B fund for general budget expenses and revenues outside the villages of Kinderhook and Valatie, which is $130,066. Mr. Grattan said the town needs to the amount raised by taxes to stay within the state’s 2% tax cap.
“We’re going to have to look through this budget again to get that down,” he said of the highway budget. All employees received a 1 ½% raise that reflects inflation, said Mr. Grattan.
He went through the general fund, pointing out small cuts in expanses and changes in anticipated revenue.
The board plans to review the Highway Department budget at another budget meeting on Monday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building on Church Street.
“For the last five years we’ve reduced taxes,” said Mr. Grattan. But this year the board is struggling to keep the increase below the 2% cap.
