Glenville's $18.2M budget OK’d; tax hike near 5%

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

The town tax rate would go up just less than 5 percent under the 2011 budget the Glenville Town Board unanimously approved Wednesday.

The owner of an average home in the town assessed at $173,000 would see town taxes rise about $25, to $550. For an average home in Scotia assessed at $125,000, the increase would be about $5, to $103.

The adopted budget totals $18.2 million.

Deputy Supervisor Alan Boulant offered a last-minute amendment to restore the dog control officer position to full time. Supervisor Chris Koetzle made the position part time in his preliminary budget.

Boulant noted that there are about 2,400 dogs in both the town and village and because of a change in state law, local municipalities are taking over processing of dog licensing. The board voted 4-1 to accept the amendment, with Councilman Mark Quinn dissenting.

During the privilege of the floor, former supervisor Frank Quinn again criticized the budget, saying the board had budgeted too high an increase for health insurance costs and could easily trim $300,000 on that alone. He also reiterated his position that the town is making a mistake by not budgeting in any raises for the three union contracts that have lapsed.

Former councilwoman Valerie DiGiandomenico also expressed concern about the union contracts.

Boulant took issue with the former board members’ comments, blaming the previous administration for tapping too much of the surplus. “Using $1.3 million in fund balance to get a zero percent tax increase last year was ridiculous. We were set up to fail,” he said.

Koetzle called the budget responsible and repeated his position that money for raises will come from concessions in health insurance costs.

“To take snipes, to take cheap shots, to present things that are not true doesn’t help us, does not help our residents, doesn’t move this town forward.”

fire district 4

In other business, the board approved a five-year contract for Scotia Fire Department to provide coverage to Fire Protection District No. 4. The agreement sets the cost at $382,950 in 2011 and locks in a 3.25 percent increase each year.

The board also set a public hearing on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on a proposed 10-year franchise renewal agreement with Time Warner Cable. Director of Operations James MacFarland said the town will receive some video equipment it can use to film community events. In addition, the company is going to move the transmitter from Saratoga to Schenectady, which had been an issue preventing Glenville town meetings from being shown on public access. That cost will be passed along to residents, resulting in a 5 cent monthly increase to bills, according to Koetzle.