Lebanon adopts budget that will be under tax cap, will raise tax rate 2.85 percent in 2019

Submitted by Supervisor James Goldstein

Lebanon town board members adopted a 2019 final town budget on Nov. 12 that will be under the state tax cap and will raise local tax rates by 2.85 percent largely due to rising fuel and related highway expenses.

Lebanon Supervisor Jim Goldstein said that the budget was finalized after a budget workshop on Oct. 22, a public hearing on Nov. 8 and a town board meeting on Nov. 12 where the budget was reviewed with town officials but where no public comment was offered.

The Town of Lebanon budget for 2019 shows larger increase on the highway budget side to reflect the rising cost of fuel, machinery repairs and road repairs as well as other highway inputs. Some of these increases are offset by higher sales tax distribution through Madison County. Goldstein reminded all residents to buy local as this generates more local sales tax income and offsets local property taxes at the town and county level.

The Town Board also granted cost of living increases to all public officials as well as highway employees that averaged about 3 percent to take into consideration the rising cost of gasoline and food prices.

The town tax rate projected for 2019 will be $4.571, about 2.85 percent higher than the town tax rate in 2018 of $4.444 per $100,000 of assessed valuation. This means the average home worth $100,000 would pay about $457.10 in town taxes vs. $444.40 in 2018, an increase of about $12.70.

Goldstein said Lebanon had been able to manage tax cuts two of the last three years and therefore had room to increase the budget while also being under the state tax cap.

Goldstein said that copies of the budget are available for viewing either by email or the Town Clerk’s office.

Town officials noted that next year, the town will join with Eaton and Georgetown in a revaluation of all town property and will also experiment with plowing Bradley Brook Road for Madison County to aid local residents with earlier plowing times to see if it is cost neutral or cost effective. The Town has added a full time temporary plow driver and will have a fourth truck out and plowing to address this issue which will increase local fuel, sand, salt and repair costs, but will also increase snow and ice removal revenues from Madison County.

Code Enforcement Officer John Armstrong gave an updated report on all the inspections and violations he has identified and the need for some changes in enforcement and fine procedures. Armstrong, who assumed duties in August, has been spending nearly 20 hours per week bringing code records up to date and has identified a number of properties that may be in violation, and is working with property owners to make corrections. Town officials will consider a system of updated fines for chronic violators at upcoming meetings.

The Lebanon Town Board next meets on Dec. 10 at 7:30 pm at the Town Office to consider end of year business, finally addressing some proposed changes in the Land Management Local Law that were delayed by Code Enforcement issues that had to be resolved, and will also consider adopting a new sexual harassment policy now required by law by New York State. Town officials will also consider possible updating of the fine system for certain code violations.

By martha

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