Tentative county budget at 2.3 percent

YATES COUNTY--The Yates County Legislature adopted the tentative 2015 budget following workshops Monday
and Tuesday, Oct. 27 and 28. This budget contains a $15,819,332 tax levy, which is a 2.3 percent increase over last year, remaining within the tax cap. The legislators were able to trim $76,961 from the budget through cost savings and some additional revenue during the workshop.

Overall, the tax levy was reduced 0.3 percent from a proposed 2.6 percent increase prior to the budget workshops. The largest decrease came in the reduction of estimated community college tuition by $57,000. The legislature was also able to replenish their general fund balance by $38,480, a move that was recommended by County Administrator Sarah Purdy prior to the workshops. Purdy had previously cited her concerns with the diminishing fund balance over the years and the need to begin putting more money back into the general fund.
The legislators had also agreed to restore a veterans services director to full-time during the meeting after several area veterans turned out to oppose it being reduced to a part-time position. The change added $36,443 back into the budget in order to keep the position full-time.