GLEN SPEY, NY — As promised last month by Supervisor Jenny Mellan, the Town of Lumberland’s 2017 budget was completed and, following a public hearing, approved by the town board on October 12.

The preliminary budget introduced in September was unchanged. Its tax levy amounts to $2,455,068, an increase of $58,648 from this year, largely due to a 15% increase in health insurance costs.

The bulk of the increase, some $43,748, is anticipated to be recovered from a six-year underpayment of Time-Warner monthly cable TV franchise payments. Mellan said last week that legal negotiations for that repayment are still ongoing.

The levy is supporting total appropriations of $3,087,116. However, with the recovered franchise funds, Mellan last month predicted a tax increase of $5 on each $100,000 of assessed value, well under the state tax increase cap.

The last piece prior to budget completion was a hearing and approval of a new two-year contract with the Lumberland Volunteer Fire Department. That proposal carried a $20,000 annual increase, and its hearing prompted more public comment than the subsequent budget hearing.

Department President Ann Steimle detailed the volunteer effort and the need for additional funding. Members have given 4,933 hours of service and have supplemented town funds with fundraising events, but those funds, which she said should have been set aside for new equipment, have been needed for day-to-day expenses. For example, outfitting a new member costs, $10,000; refurbishing a truck costs $120,000 and a new engine costs $500,000.

“Looking at the budget, we’re down $8,000 to $10,000, we’re down every month. The guys make all the calls, 100%, and we support the towns around us… they deserve the same equipment as paid departments,” she said.

Several people testified about the department’s life-saving efforts on their behalf. Those testimonies included one from Councilman Joe Carr, who said the department’s ambulance service was “the only reason I’m here. I would be dead.”

However, there were questions. In response to a question about the board’s review of the department budget, Mellan said the department was a private organization and there had been no negotiations. Mellan added that the actual increase was $10,000 annually, since $10,000 previously set aside annually for radio equipment updates had already been incorporated in a general increase.

Carolyn Akt said she was grateful for the department’s efforts and was not implying any mishandling of funds, but she felt that the board should ask for a monthly financial report from the department. “We don’t know how the money is spent.”

The following hearing on the town budget contained one concern about the loss of one employee in the summer youth program and a second about the recovery of $14,200 in funding devoted for fire calls in the Town of Bethel.

The fire department contract was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Councilman James Akt opposed. Akt said he supported a smaller increase, “but I’m not going with $10,000.”

The town budget, similarly, was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Akt again opposed, based on general employee salary increases. “The girls in the office should be brought to the right pay, but giving all raises right along—no way.”

The board scheduled a 7:15 p.m. public hearing for a proposed zoning change creating a Mohican Lake overlay district at the upcoming November 2 board workshop meeting at the municipal building.