Village Board adopts 2021-22 budget

MILLBROOK — Mayor Tim Collopy opened the special  meeting, a public hearing on the Village of Millbrook’s 2021-22 budget, on Wednesday, April 7, held via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He held a moment of silent prayer for John Lester, a longtime member of the Rescue Squad who recently passed away.

The A-fund finished $100,000 in the red from the previous year’s budget, meaning that the expenditures had overridden the revenue for that period. This caused the unrestricted fund balance to drop below $100,000 and caused the village’s fiscal stress rating to go from “no designation” to a “susceptible fiscal stress rating.” The mayor added that there is also a need to increase the village’s fund balance.

The Water Fund owes the General Fund $50,000 and the Sewer Fund owes $60,000. 

There were two new vehicles added to the budget, a new dump truck and a new police vehicle. There is $33,000 owed on the dump truck with two payments left on the 2019 dump truck, which was unexpected. The budget must also include an estimated $42,000 in estimated overtime and shift coverage. Police Reform costs are to be determined. 

The firehouse needs a new roof, which will cost the village about 50% of the $119,000 cost. The annual $25,000 Thorne Building Trust payment will soon cease when the building is turned over to the new 501(C)3.

The village plans to repay monies from the Water and Sewer Funds to the General Fund by July 2021. This will add $110,000 to the General Fund balance. The village will start reserve funds for the Water and Sewer Departments for future capital improvements; there will be  a freeze on most reserve accounts (ambulance and highway vehicles, police vehicle, Village Hall restoration) and a zero contingency.

There will be increased funds from the Water Fund from the 2019 rate increase needed to pay back the $50,000 owed to the General Fund and to cover a long-term debt obligation for water plant improvements (including a $500,000 bond, $550,000 bond anticipation note [BAN] and a $200,000 BAN). 

The Sewer Fund will have see a 16% rate increase and a $10,000 Sewer Special Benefit Assessment (SSBA) increase will be needed to pay back $60,000 owed to the General Fund for the maintenance and repair of the sewer’s aging infrastructure and future improvements.

The A-Fund General Fund will increase by 2.9%. The current tax levy is $976,000. The real property tax increase will be 6%, so the amount to be raised in taxes will be $1,034,464, plus a 6% property tax increase. 

A public hearing was held to override the tax cap, if necessary, as is done every year as a precautionary measure. No comments were made and the hearing was closed. 

The board took a roll call vote to adopt the 2021-22 budget, which was passed. 

Mayor Collopy remarked that the VFW of Millbrook had contacted him about permits for a parade on Memorial Day. The state currently only allows outdoor public gatherings of 200 people or less. Some ideas met with more enthusiasm than others, but most agreed something will probably needed to occur and at some point there will be a reopening of community events. More discussion will take place in the future.

The next regular meeting will be on Wednesday, April 21, at 6 p.m., via Zoom. Email clerk@villageofmillbrookny.com for more information.