Lumberland budget increases

No new taxes expected

By LISA CUTRONI

GLEN SPEY, NY — The Lumberland Town Board approved its 2006 budget on November 3. Overall spending will increase by $120,000 in 2006, from $1.68 million to $1.8 million.

Supervisor John LiGreci credited the budgetary increase to the high costs of diesel and heating fuel oil. “The high fuel costs have impacted the highway department and construction,” he said, adding that salt and sand prices went up. The town recently transferred $100,000 in extra money to the highway department fund to offset the increase in fuel prices.

The 2006 tax rate will increase less than one percent to total 6.82 percent. For 2005 the tax rate had increased because of the 2004 Mirant-Mongaup hydroelectric facilities tax claim settlement.

Unlike many of the surrounding towns, Lumberland residents did not see an increase in their taxes due to property reassessments. While the town evaluates at 100 percent, appraisals did not go up this year.

Budget increases can also be explained by the change in workman’s compensation insurance.