Penn Yan tax levy increases 2.08 percent

PENN YAN—Village officials approved the 2011-12 budget during a meeting on Wednesday, April 13.
The approved budget, after some changes were made, is $4,075,271. The tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value is $14.84 for property in the town of Benton, $15.46 for property in Jerusalem and $14.84 for property in the town of Milo. This reflects an increase of 2.67 percent in Benton and Milo and 2.66 in Jerusalem. The 2.08 percent increase in the tax levy will raise the tax on a home in Benton or Milo assessed at $100,000 by $39 and one assessed $100,000 in Jerusalem at $40.
Commenting on the budget, Mayor Robert Church said, “We try to keep the budget as close as we can to where we were. The only way we can benefit is to get more taxable property in the village. We don’t get a lot of extra income from the state and county.”
Public Works Director Brent Bodine told the board there has been an increase in the cost of gasoline of 32 percent and of diesel fuel, 42 percent. The increase is based on gallons used last year. Police Chief Mark Hulse said he feels he can absorb the increase of $6,000 in his budget. The Department of Public Works (DPW) expects to be able to absorb $5,000 of the expected $8,000 increase. The DPW requested an additional $3,000 for the fuel increase.
In other business: Approved seeking engineering bids for removal of bathrooms at Red Jacket Park. Engineering will be part of the in-kind portion of a grant.
• Approved and established the Water and Sewer budgets for 2011-12.
• Approved the Electric Budget for 2011-12. The village is going on the 16th year without an increase in electric rates. Municipal board chairman Rom French told the board improvements to the infrastructure have been made during that time.
• The board set a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 17 for the water rates: a fixed user cost of $3 and a usage rate of $8.32 per 1,000 gallons of use.
• A public hearing for sewer rates was set at 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17. The proposed rates include a fixed user cost of $4.80 and a usage rate of $5.90 per 1,000 gallons of use. Church said the matter had been in discussion for three years.
• The board approved a motion to request bids for paving work on several areas of Main and Clinton Streets and South Avenue. Paving on East Elm Street will be done in the summer after infrastructure work is done.
• A motion to request engineering proposals for the Waterfront Park and Trail Improvement grant was approved.
• Trustee Bart Winslow said the fire department received 14 new applications during the department’s open house April 9. Winslow called it a good result.
• Vice-mayor Willie Allison reported the pothole repair company was in the village for one day. Repairs will continue when weather permits. Allison said, “Hopefully when they are done people will realize the village is on the right track.”
The next meeting of the Penn Yan village board will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17 in the village office building on Elm Street.