Whitehall proposes 1.15 percent levy increase

By Dan King

Whitehall town officials have proposed a preliminary spending plan that would increase the tax levy by $10,000, or 1.15 percent.

“The tentative budget stays within the cap,” said Supervisor George Armstrong.

The amount to be raised by taxes is set to increase from $869,266 this year to $879,266 for next year. Meanwhile, the overall town budget would increase from $1,091,708 this year to $1,104,889 in 2016.

The difference in total budget and money raised by taxes means the town will need to use $225,623 from areas other than taxes, such as other income and the town’s fund balance.

“Actually we’re using less money this year out of the fund balance than we did the previous year,” Armstrong said.

The largest new expense being proposed in the preliminary budget is for highway machinery and equipment, which would increase by $26,820. However, the town will see the same amount of money reduced in its debt service principle for the highway department, which will offset the proposed increase in machinery.

“Any part of this budget can be changed during our budget workshops,” said Armstrong. “Of course you never know what the impact is on your fund balance until you get to the final budget.”

A budget workshop will be held Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. and again, if needed, on Sept. 30 at 10 a.m. These are public meetings at the Town Municipal Center.

After the town board crunches numbers and makes any changes it decides, the proposed budget will be presented and a public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 13, just prior to the board’s regularly scheduled meeting.