Village of East Williston residents will see a slight property tax increase this year, according to the village’s preliminary budget.
The tax revenue will fund continuing public works projects in the $2.5 million budget and will be offset by an operating surplus from the past fiscal year, Mayor David Tanner said.
“It’s a very reasonable budget,” he said. “… I think our residents understand today the cost and benefit of spending appropriately and judiciously and appreciate the services that we’re providing, which is why people continue to invest in our community.”
At $2,547,704, the 2016-17 preliminary budget is about 4.3 percent larger than the 2015-16 adopted budget of $2,441,911.
It proposes growing the tax levy by 1.32 percent, with the property tax rate increasing by 0.86 percent.
The state tax cap law set East Williston’s allowable property tax levy increase at 0.32 percent, the preliminary budget says.
But because the village cut property taxes last year, Tanner said, the law allows it to carry over a certain levy increase.
Sidewalk improvements to East Williston Avenue, the purchase of a new truck for the Department of Public Works and site work at Village Hall create continuing capital expenses that contribute to the budget growth, Tanner said.
“(W)e’ve tried to be pretty conservative with the budget overall and not make any wild projections for expenditures or revenues,” he said.
Total capital expenses decreased to $148,000 from $188,000 last year, the preliminary budget says, but the portion coming from the village’s general fund increased to $98,000 from $82,000.
The budget also proposes an increase to fire department expenses in the general fund, from $218,813 to $235,075.
The hiring of an administrator for the department’s Length of Service Award Program at $15,000 represents the bulk of that increase.
Tanner said the expenses are partially offset by a projected $51,969 surplus from last year’s budget.
The village has also received some reimbursements, back taxes and other income for the demolition of the house at 8 Sumter Ave. last year, Tanner said, which is part of an $81,750 fund balance revenue line in the preliminary budget.
The village’s total assessed property value also increased slightly, by a little less than $10,500.
“That’s a sign of people investing in our community,” Tanner said, something he thinks is also reflected in an increase in permit revenue.
The preliminary budget contains $8,000 more in permit revenue than last year.
The 2015-16 adopted budget included $90,000 in permit revenue, but the village is projected to get $120,000 for the fiscal year, the preliminary budget says.
The preliminary budget will likely shift as the village gets feedback from residents and addresses salary increases before it adopts a budget, Tanner said.
The Village Board will hold a public budget workshop meeting Feb. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.
