STOCKTON - The Stockton Town Board, following the advice of its attorney Jeffrey Passafaro, will hold a hearing about a resolution to override the 2 percent tax cap on its budget and fire contract.
There will be two public hearings Tuesday, beginning at 7 p.m. One will be about the 2 percent tax cap override and the other will be the budget hearing. Following that, the board will hold its regular meeting.
During a recent meeting, Allen Chase, the Town Board member who typically does the financial reporting, discussed preliminary figures concerning tax rates. The town's tax rate is projected at $5.56 per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase from $5.41. The rate applies to the village of Cassadaga. Those outside the village are projected to pay an additional $1.27 per $1,000 of assessed value, an increase from $1.13.
Article Photos
From left, John Beichner and Allen Chase, Stockton Town Board members, and David Wilson, town supervisor, discuss the town’s budget.
Photo by Diane R. Chodan
Those in the Light District pay an additional $.61 per $1,000 of assessed value. The charge for those in the Fire District will be $1.41, which Chase said was "similar to last year."
Chase mentioned that workers' compensation charges will be passed down to the town, which will cause an increase in the money budgeted.
In addition, the town plans a 3 percent raise for town employees. Health insurance is projected to increase by 13 percent while retirement costs will also climb.
Chase said not all figures are finalized.
"Allen does a super job with the budget," said John Beichner, board member. "The town is in very good financial shape. We have zero debt. For a small town, I think that's quite an achievement."
Dave Wilson, town supervisor, said the town did not receive any petitions for a referendum on the sale of the library.
"The library sale is a done deal," he said.
During the public comment section of the meeting Trudy Coulcher, president of the library board promised, "You are not going to have the ceiling fall on you."
She said the repairs would be made. She also asked the town to get its things out of the basement.