BUDGET SPENDING, TAXES UP 6.5%

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED - Noting expressions of discomfort voiced by several residents and officials at the prospect of traveling at night on Halloween, the Highland Town Board rescheduled its hearing on the town's 2001 preliminary budget from October 31 to October 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Councilman Peter Lilholt, who has in the past complained about unchecked Halloween youth vandalism, called Yulan a "war zone" on Halloween. Several audience members at the board's regular monthly meeting on October 10 also warned that people would not attend a hearing on Halloween.

Lilholt later tempered his remarks saying the board had no specific need to meet on the 31st. "If we had needed to meet then, we would have," he added.

Supervisor Allan Schadt said the hearing would have been scheduled for the board's November 14, regular meeting, but town law requires adoption of the town budget days after the November 7 elections.

Schadt introduced the $1,106,004 preliminary budget Tuesday. The new budget includes $67,373 in new spending, offset by $13,630 in new revenues.

Approved as a preliminary budget, the only allowable changes would be reductions. If unchanged the budget would prompt a 6.53 percent increase in the tax levy, which Schadt noted was about half of the increase called for in the earlier tentative budget.

The town board last month approved a September 27 through November 4 curfew period when minors unaccompanied by adults must be off the streets by 9:00 p.m.