By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG - The Town of Tusten Board passed its new 2000-2001 budget last Monday evening after a public hearing. The vote was 5-0.

The new budget includes a two percent increase in property taxes.

The reasons for the increase are a 16 percent rise in hospitalization costs for town employees, an increase in energy costs, a three-percent salary increase for town employees and the 12.5 percent local share of the Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) subsidy to pay for damages to roads an bridges caused by the August 11 storm, according to town supervisor Richard Crandall.

The total spending plan is $790,941.