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The 2013-14 proposed village budget includes a tax rate of $281.97 per thousand of assessed valuation, an increase of $6.21 per thousand or 2.25 percent.
“After several consecutive years of service and personnel cuts, the current budget maintains the same level of village services,” Mayor Brian Smith said in a letter to residents. “It has not been an easy task with increased costs in pension, health insurance, workers' compensation and union obligations.”
Smith noted several increases in operational costs, including about $186,000 in liability insurance, retirement, workers' compensation and health insurance costs. Contractual obligations increased by approximately $220,000.
The proposed budget also included an increase of $35,000 for road improvements, $50,000 in tax certioraris and $14,000 for the library fund.
Increased funds for the justice court, recreation department, building department and the O'Hara Nature Center totalling $75,000 are offset by a reduction in debt service and across the board cuts, Smith said.
Irvington residents would see a 2.5 percent increase in water rates and an 8.5 percent increase in sewer rates, Smith said.
A public hearing on the budget will take place on April 1 at 7 p.m. at Irvington Village Hall.
Officials were able to keep the budget down because of a “vigilant review of operations, cost-saving opportunities and revenue maximization,” Smith said.
“This has afforded us the ability to present a budget that meets the mandated increases while doing the same with often less resources.”
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