The town of Malta would for the first time spend more than $10 million in a year under the proposed 2017 town budget.
The proposed budget for the growing suburban town totals $10.05 million, which is up from $9.8 million in the current budget.
The town has property taxes only for fire protection, library services and a benefit program for emergency services volunteers. A home assessed at $250,000 would pay $248 in taxes next year, about $7 more than this year.
“(This) represents a fiscally conservative budget that funds core town responsibilities for road maintenance, fire protection, ambulance services, local courts, planning and code enforcement, while staying below the state two percent tax cap,” Town Supervisor Vincent DeLucia said in a budget message.
Residents will pay just over $2 million for fire protection, or 85 cents per $1,000 assessed value. Fire protection funds are split equally between the Malta Ridge and Round Lake volunteer fire companies.
The tax rate to support the Round Lake-Town of Malta Library would be 13.3 cents per $1,000, based on a $291,000 levy. However, a referendum going before voters on Nov. 8 could increase the levy to $339,000, which would increase the rate by a small amount.
The tentative budget also includes $665,000 for road improvements and $300,000 for new highway department equipment.
Employees are to receive a 0.68 percent cost-of-living increase, DeLucia said.
Major revenue sources are expected to see little, if any, growth. County sales tax revenue, the town’s largest single source of funding, is expected to be unchanged in 2017, at $4.6 million.
Town Comptroller Kevin King said mortgage tax revenue is also expected to be flat next year. DeLucia said the town should keep a reserve equal to two months’ operating expenses as protection against emergency or unexpected costs.
“Very often we get more and more demand for services, and we only have so many resources,” DeLucia said.
Following a series of budget workshops and hearings, the Town Board is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget on Nov. 14.
Reach Gazette reporter Stephen Williams at 395-3086, [email protected] or @gazettesteve on Twitter.
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