Submitted by James Goldstein
(Town of Lebanon, NY – Jan. 2013
) The year 2013 will present our town with some significant challenges on both the budgetary and public policy front. The town will face the same circumstances of trying to comply with a state-imposed property tax cap and continued unfunded state mandates that impact the town’s budget dramatically, including rising state retirement costs, changing building codes and new Workers’ Compensation requirements that increase the cost of fire and ambulance protection.
The town also will face some important decisions regarding future natural gas development as well as the results of a survey that will be circulated by the town Comprehensive Planning Committee and what may be recommended in terms of a town comprehensive plan.
Fortunately, the town is well-positioned financially to meet these coming challenges with significant reserves that have been developed to offset rising budget costs, equipment acquisitions, building repairs and expansions and other potential increases. Town reserves continue to be strong, and the budget year ended with substantial fund balance in both general fund and highway accounts to offset 2013 budget costs.
The good news is that 2012 was a successful year financially, despite some unexpected spending overages on highway equipment repairs, paltry interest rates for income and rising legal expenses. The general fund is expected to finish with about $84,000 in unexpended fund balance, almost equal to the 2013 fund balance of $87,000 that was projected.
On the highway side, about $35,000 is estimated in unexpended fund balance to apply against the $85,000 fund balance for 2013.
The maintenance of a strong set of reserve funds has allowed the town to acquire equipment and make necessary repairs and improvements without additional burden on the town taxpayers. The result has been little or no increase in the local tax rate or tax levy in five of the last six town budgets and compliance the last two years with the state tax cap without jeopardizing the delivery of local services.
We have also implemented the one-person plow program that initially shows great promise in terms of cost savings. Our highway superintendent has also begun to develop experimenting with salt brine in coordination with other municipalities to reduce costs and improve ice and snow removal. Our town roads remain some of the best-maintained in the region.
The major challenges for 2013 include developing a comprehensive approach to anticipated future gas drilling activities and other potential industrial activities, encouraging and supporting local and sustainable economic growth, developing an inclusive comprehensive plan for the township and ensuring that any development or industrial activity does not jeopardize public health, safety, water quality, land use or property values.
We also face the challenge of changes in policy at the state and federal level, which will have local implications in terms of policy and cost. We will have to remain vigilant in advocating for rural concerns and rural constituencies.
We are experiencing rising highway repair costs, as new trucks and other equipment do not appear to have the same longevity or reliability they did in prior generations, despite being acquired through state bid. A highway plow truck that used to be able to last 20 years with proper maintenance has now become a 10-year truck, challenging our budget and highway maintenance program.
We continue to look for cost efficiencies and collaborative work with neighboring municipalities to save on costs whenever possible.
Despite these challenges, I am pleased to report that Lebanon is well-positioned financially to meet these challenges with fund reserves prepared for these circumstances, that we will continue to carefully monitor our spending and provision of services, and we will continue to maintain a strong model of open government that is inclusive of resident and taxpayer concerns.
The question before us will continue to be what kind of community we want to build and strengthen, what trends are occurring that will require the support of or policy action by the Lebanon Town Board and what we should anticipate for the future.
The coming year will present us with some unique opportunities to consider.
James Goldstein is supervisor of the town of Lebanon.
I wish we lived in your Town. The total transparency is the way government should be run.
Miriam Barrows