Tioga County budget approved with a 4.55 percent increase
Published: December 16, 2009
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Times-Shamrock Photo/WENDY POST Bob Bell from Barton, N.Y. pleads with Tioga County Legislators to disapprove the budget during Tuesday evening's legislative meeting.
TIOGA COUNTY, N.Y. - Tioga County Legislators on Tuesday unanimously approved the 2010 county budget, which includes a tax levy increase of $863,477, or a 4.55 percent increase.
The increase will be distributed throughout nine municipalities in Tioga County based on equalization rates set down by the state, with five of those municipalities seeing an increase in their county tax rate and four others seeing a decrease.
Set to increase are the towns of Candor, Newark Valley, Owego, Spencer and Tioga. Barton, Berkshire, Nichols and Richford will see a decrease in their county tax rate.
The recycling tax levy will also be increased by $31,809, or 3.99 percent, and will result in an increase in the tax rate in Candor, Newark Valley, Owego, Spencer and Tioga. Barton, Berkshire, Nichols and Richford will see a decrease in their recycling tax rate.
Prior to the legislative vote to adopt the 2010 budget Tuesday evening, Bob Bell, land and property owner in Barton, N.Y., pleaded with the legislators to reject the budget.
Bringing a large sign into the meeting that said "SERF ON MY OWN LAND," Bell told legislators during open floor that his taxes increased 118 percent last year. "I feel like a serf on my own land," Bell said.
He also addressed a tough economy and double digit unemployment. Bell then addressed Legislator Ron McEwen, telling him that he knows more about the budget than anyone else.
"I suggest to you that you get an axe and trim the fat out of this budget," Bell told McEwen. "I am pleading that you don't increase taxes," he added.
McEwen noted that although he appreciated what Bell said, he couldn't trim the budget much further. "I'm cutting expenses as much as possible," McEwen said.
"We started the process early, and we have to be prepared for any state cuts that might come down next year," McEwen added.
Legislator Dick Huttleston echoed McEwen, stating that he was approving the budget, but doing so with tongue in cheek. Huttleston noted that he fought with the other legislators to take more funds out of the surplus to offset the increase, but lost the battle.
Ten positions were cut within the county during this year's budget process, to include four patrol officers within the Tioga County Sheriff's Department. The budget also revealed an overall decrease in spending of $1,167,012 from areas of general government, interfund transfer and social services.
But this decrease was offset by a decrease in revenues of $1,230,459 derived from anticipated non-property tax payments and a reduction in New York State aid.
1 posted comments
A time for Tax revolt in Tioga County is coming!