Quoted Text

HALFMOON Town officials today unveiled a nearly $15 million proposed 2009 budget that, again, will carry no general or highway taxes.

     
The proposed spending plan represents a 9.2 percent increase over last year, due in part to increasing energy costs, said Supervisor Mindy Wormuth.

The new town hall and park contributed only modestly to the increase, she said.

Halfmoons primary sources of revenue are state mortgage tax and county sales tax payments with the expected $3.5 million in sales tax revenue in the general fund up $200,000 over last year, according to the plan.

The budget also uses about $1.26 million in reserve money, a figure Wormuth noted could increase if the state budget cuts called for today by Gov. David A. Paterson affect the relatively small amount of state aid the town receives.

The town expects to receive about $71,000 from the state based on its population, Wormuth said.

"That wouldnt be my first choice," Wormuth said of dipping further into the towns fund balance, but well continue to look at it."

If approved, the budget would mark Halfmoons 30th year without a general tax and its 24th year without a highway tax.

Even if cuts at the state level put added pressure on the town, Wormuth said its unlikely officials would consider any kind of town tax.

"I dont think we would look at that," she said.

Other projected revenues include $975,000 from mortgage tax; $375,000 in forfeited bail; $275,000 from building permits; $130,000 from planning board fees; and $310,000 from ambulance fees.

With residents facing rising food and fuel costs, she said the town sought to preserve funding to programs for seniors and children, such as Meals On Wheels through Halfmoon Seniors, and CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services.

The proposed budget contains no new jobs, and in some cases consolidates jobs that were already unfilled, she said.