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Posted on by John Noetzel

Village Trustees approved $1.6 million budget for 2017-18

The Stillwater Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $1.6 million village budget Tuesday night for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The vote followed a public hearing in which no one commented on the proposed fiscal plan. The new budget will go into effect on June 1.

The newly-approved budget for 2017-18 totals $1,602,700 and breaks down as follows:

  • General Fund: $837,800 – up $58,000 from 2016-2017
  • Water Fund: $418,500 – up $3,020 from 2016-2017
  • Sewer Fund: $346,400 – up $2,520 from 2016-2017

The village property tax rate will increase from $3.45 per $1,000 of assessed value to $4.10 per $1,000 of assessed value for the new fiscal year. Prior to budget approval, the Village Board held a public hearing on a local law enabling them to exceed the New York State property tax levy cap and generate more budget revenue. No one spoke at the hearing. To override the tax levy cap of 0.68 percent for municipalities next fiscal year the village needed a 60-percent vote majority of the Village Board or at least 3 of 5 yes votes. The law passed unanimously. The total amount to be raised by property taxes to balance the general fund in 2017-2018 is $358,381.

The water usage rates for village residents will remain unchanged during the next fiscal year at $4.50 per 1,000 gallons, and $6.38 per 1,000 gallons for outside the village water purchasers.

In other business Feb. 21,

  • Trustees voted unanimously to include on the March 21 village election ballot a special proposition asking voters for permission to move the annual local elections from March to November each year in an effort to increase voter turnout and cut down on costs.
  • Trustees discussed adopting a new fee schedule for building and zoning applications/work in the village to fall more in line with what neighboring municipalities like the Town of Stillwater, City of Mechanicville, and Town of Malta are charging. The change would mean increased fees for builders and generate more revenue for the village. The matter was tabled until March so officials could get more clarification on the proposal.
  • Trustees set the weekend of May 6-7 for the annual village-wide garage sale, and voted to waive the traditional vendor fee for that event in lieu of a $5 per day donation by vendors to the Stillwater Historical Society.