Yates plans for budget public hearing

YATES COUNTY--The Yates County legislature has reviewed and revised the 2018 proposed budget for the county and a public hearing will be held Thursday, Nov. 16 before the final version is decided. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the legislative chambers.
The changes to the budget from the first proposed version have resulted in a reduction in the tax levy, now $16,191,848 from $16,389,011, and also a reduction in the tax rate to $6.4556 from $6.5342. This means compared to last year, the tax levy is now at a 0.91 percent increase, while the tax rate is a 1.07 percent decrease.
New York state allowed Yates County up to a $16,534,687 tax levy while remaining under the tax cap. The revised budget is under that number by $342,839.
During the county budget workshops $197,163 was trimmed from the first proposed tax levy. At the Oct. 31 workshop the largest changes were seen in a corrections sergeant salary ($53,914) being deducted, increasing room tax revenue $45,000 and $10,000 coming off a counseling contract. On the opposite side, the largest increases were to the insurance reserve ($50,000), Penn Yan Hotel ($36,000) and the line item 'repay-medical assistance revenue decrease' (the revenue expectation was reduced from $50,000 to $30,000 or $20,000). The net decrease for the day was $41,734. There was $50,000 used in unassigned fund balance at this session.
During the Nov. 1 meeting, the largest change was $200,000 added to sales tax revenue. The largest expenditures included the planning department (natural resources) $45,467 and a contingent line item for $20,000. The total decrease was $155,429. $50,000 in the road fund balance was also used at this workshop.
The full budget can be seen at: https://www.yatescounty.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/117.