FACEBOOKThe Stillwater Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $1.54 million village budget Tuesday night (March 15) that holds the line on property taxes and water rates for the 2016-17 fiscal year. The vote followed a public hearing in which no one commented on the proposed spending plan.
The new budget totals $1,539,160 are breaks down as follows:
- General Fund: $779,800
- Water Fund: $415,480
- Sewer Fund: $343,880
Click here to view the entire 2016-17 budget document
Despite an overall budget-to-budget increase from 2015-16 of about $16,200, the village will use some of its fund balance to keep the property tax rate the same for the new fiscal year at $3.45 per $1,000 of assessed value. The total amount to be raised by property taxes to balance the general fund in 2016-17 is $295,371.
The water rate for village residents will also remain unchanged from last fall’s increase to $4.50 per 1,000 gallons for water and sewer, and $6.38 per 1,000 gallons for outside the village water purchasers.
In other business March 15:
Trustees passed resolutions authorizing the village to reapply for a New York State Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant to help finance the Hillside water tank improvement project. The 2016 grant application is due by April 15. The village had applied for the same grant this year but was unsuccessful in obtaining funding. The money, if awarded, couldpay up to 60 percent of the estimated $550,000 total cost to replace the tank and a water line between the tank and Lake Road. The water tank has corroded and reached the end of its service life.
Trustees approved an additional $491 to increase insurance coverage for the village fire department.
Trustee Judith Wood-Shaw submitted a report from the Bicentennial Planning Committee detailing activities being planned for the upcoming kickoff celebration set for 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, April 17. The day will include a variety of free events including music, line dancing, games, a pig roast, time capsule, birthday cake, and fireworks.