Village budget includes a 2 percent hike

DUNDEE--The village of Dundee adopted their 2016-17 budget during the regular meeting Tuesday, April 12. The board held a public hearing prior to adoption, with the new budget including a property tax levy increase of $11,109. This is a 2.04 percent increase over last year. Village Clerk Christine Sutherland said the largest increases in the new budget are an additional $27,117 towards street maintenance, along with $2,500 to start a parking lot reserve fund.
The Dundee village board had previously approved a tax cap override during their March 8 meeting. The New York State Comptroller's Office capped the property tax levy growth for villages and school districts at 0.12 percent above current levels for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Sutherland said this would have allowed the village only around $3,000 to work with for the upcoming year.
Judy Duquette was the only trustee to vote against the budget, noting she was not able to attend some of the budget workshops this year.
In other business:
• The board approved a change for their water billing to include the $45 charge whether service is on or off for non-residents. Mayor Fred Cratsley Jr. said the village is also doing away with the 4,000 gallon minimum charge for their sewer bills. The new rate will take effect after May 31.
• Judy Duquette and Larry Howell were officially reappointed to their trustee positions after being reelected in the March 15 village election.
• Our Town RoCKS Program Coordinator Caryl Sutterby said the Scottish Festival will be held July 16 this year. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Millard Park, located at 26 Spring St. She said if it rains again this year, it will be the last year of the festival.
• The board agreed to spend $18,000 from the capital building reserve fund for engineering plans for an additional storage/shop public works maintenance building on Spring Street. The resolution is subject to a permissive referendum.