Walter's Budget Avoids Layoffs, Raises Taxes 2.36 Percent

Supervisor Sean Walter presented a preliminary budget for 2012 on Friday afternoon which, if adopted by the Town Board, will increase the town tax rate by 2.36 percent next year and lay off no town employees.

While the tax rate exceeds the oft-discussed "two percent tax cap," the mandate passed at the state level this year allows taxing districts to exceed two percent due to certain costs. Among them are pension costs, which are expected to rise by 4.2 percent.

The $51.6 million budget increases spending by 3.3 percent over last year's $49.5 million budget. Last year, the supervisor as six full-time employees and seven part-timers were cut due to revenue shortfall projections.

"From 2010 through 2012, if the Town Board adopts my budget — which I think they will do, again — spending will have only gone up 1.2 percent," Walter said on Friday. "That's very minimal and at the same time, pension and health care costs have risen in excess of $3 million. We will have raised the budget by $600,000 from 2010 to 2012."

Unlike last year, Walter noted that all five members of the Town Board will not meet as a group to discuss the budget. Instead, board members will meet with Financial Administrator Bill Rothaar and address their concerns.

Last year Councilwoman Jodi Giglio and Councilman George Gabrielsen — the two most recently elected board members — had was due in an attempt to make further budget cuts. However after public discussions and questions-and-answers, no third votes were realized for big-ticket cuts, and spending was reduced by $22,000.

"When you have four board members having a conversation with department heads and the financial administrator, there are too many competing interests," Walter said. "It's conducive in no way to a constructive conversation."

He added that members of the public and Town Board would have a chance to comment during a public hearing, before a final spending plan is due on Nov. 20.

Walter noted that his predecessor, Phil Cardinale, did not have the open budget work sessions he held last year, which Councilman Jim Wooten confirmed.

"We met with department heads but Phil stayed out of it," Wooten said. He added that last year's discussions helped him understand what departments need and want, even though they ultimately led to no major changes in Walter's budget.

Still, the lack of official meetings would not stop him from having conversations with departments about their budgets.

"If I feel the need to call in someone I'm willing to do that, weather Sean is there or not," Wooten said.

Giglio, who also said last year's budget process was a learning one, agreed.

"As long as all my questions are answered, I don't care if we do this on-camera or off-camera," she said.