Highland taxes to rise 14.5 percent

By DAVID HULSE

ELDRED, NY — In the largest single-year tax increase in recent memory, the Highland Town Board on November 9 approved a $1.57 million appropriations budget for 2005. The budget will require a 14.5-percent increase in town property taxes.

Supervisor Allen Schadt said the increase would raise the rate per $1,000 of assessed valuation from $4.42 last year to $4.95, which remains lower than it was in the three years prior to 2004.

Schadt said that the initial spending plan would have pushed the new tax increase to 19.12 percent, but for a last moment change. Prior to the approval vote, Schadt decided to transfer $45,000 earmarked for the town’s payment to the state retirement system to unexpended 2004 funds in order to reduce the tax increase. He said the retirement money was available, as payment is not due until February of next year.

The town had waited until after the recent elections to finalize the budget because of two proposition questions which authorized town payment of a “length of service awards program” (LOSAP) to active Yulan and Highland Lake firefighters and separately to American Legion Ambulance Service members. Both measures passed on November 2.

Schadt said the first-year LOSAP appropriation for the two programs alone, some $90,400, increased town spending by 9.12 percent.

“There’s nothing I can do,” he said adding, “The voters said yes.”

Apart from the LOSAP funding, town spending increased $130,460 or 9.7 percent.

Notable increases include:

• an $18,000 increase in medical/hospitalization insurance;

• a $10,000 increase in the building inspection line, as James Nolan will assume the Code Enforcement Officer position replacing Fusco Engineering;

• a $9,500 in town attorneys fees—the Garigliano Law Offices will not be representing Highland during anticipated litigation in 2005;

• an $8,000 increase in payments to the state-run, municipal retirement fund;

• a $6,000 increase in unallocated insurance appropriations;

• $5,250 in new funding for town constables;

• a $4,000 salary increase, to $40,000, for Highway Superintendent Norman Sutherland;

• $4,000 in salary increases among Assessor Lori King and three staff members;

• $3,250 in salary increases between Town Clerk Doreen Hanson and her deputy;

• a $1,500 salary increase for the justice court clerk’s position; and

• a $1,000 salary increase for the supervisor’s bookkeeper.

Schadt said he anticipated that more new construction would take place in 2005 to increase needed revenues, as “there will be no unexpended balance to offset taxes next year.”

No reductions were made in the spending plan after the voters’ LOSAP approval.

“I believe our people deserved raises. There is more work required and more time needed to do it,” Schadt said.