Montour Falls approves two percent tax levy decrease

    MONTOUR FALLS—The Montour Falls village board approved the 2012-13 budget, Monday, May 7.
    The budget total is $1,376,638, up from the previous budget of $1,323,500. According to Clerk Suzanne Casselberry, the tax levy is down two percent to $440,343, from the previous $449,850.
    In other business:
    Superintendent of Public Works Dean Hillyard reported docks at the village marina are being repaired. He added that the former yacht club building has been connected to the water service, but some pipes need to be repaired. Work is also progressing on making the bathrooms at the club building accessible to marina users. Hillyard said the wall separating the bathrooms from the rest of the building is almost completed.
    Board member Ellen Mathers reported on her work to create a sidewalk replacement policy. She said it should include some sort of incentive for property owners to pay to repair damaged sidewalks, like the village offering to pay a percentage. However, this would mean the village could only do a limited number of such projects with money being available each year. Mathers added a payment plan, where the resident could pay over a number of months, would also be encouraging.
    The board agreed to help fund part of the cost to install air conditioning units on the top floor of the village hall. The space is being used during the summer for the Old Havana Courthouse Theatre program.
    The Montour Falls Memorial Library asked that the rain garden sign be moved closer to the sidewalk so it can be more visible. King said he had already talked to Hillyard to do just that.