Village budget introduced, public hearing is April 13

MILLBROOK — The village of Millbrook’s fiscal year begins June 1 and ends May 31. Millbrook’s Village Board is thus gearing up to propose its 2022-23 budget, which must be approved by May 1, in order to be presented before the Wednesday, April 13, public hearing. That hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Millbrook firehouse.

Mayor Tim Collopy released a summary of the budget via his newsletter and shared it with The Millerton News here.

He began with the General Fund, which is within the New York State mandated tax cap of 2%. Collopy said the budget will include a 1% tax rate increase of $4.85 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The overall assessed value of village property has increased by 1%, resulting in a 2% tax levy.

The General Fund (A-Fund) is $2.1 million; $1.1 million of revenue is coming from the tax levy while the other $1 million will come from other sources, among them the Town of Washington (TOW), Dutchess County, the state and various  fees including rentals, etc.

From the $2.1 million A-Fund expenses, $709,000 (35%) will go toward fire and rescue services; $615,000 (31%) will go toward  the Front Office; $435,000 (22%) will go toward the Highway Department; and $229,000 (12%) will go toward the Police Department.

The budget also includes a 3% raise for employees, similar to other local municipalities, said the mayor.

“There is a contract between the village and TOW to provide fire and rescue services, with the town paying for the majority of the costs based on the ratio of property values,” according to Collopy.

In his newsletter, the mayor stated, “57% of the Fire/Rescue budget is for the contract with Northern Dutchess Paramedics [NDP] to provide the Village of Millbrook and Town of Washington with 24/7 paramedic/ambulance service. This contract contains an annual 2.5% increase.”

Costs also cover training and certification, maintenance and repair for department vehicles and the second of five annual payments covering 40% of the cost a new firehouse roof.

The village also has to pay for an increase to the LOSAP fund, which pays into a fund for volunteers who meet yearly service requirements.

There was also an expansion of cancer coverage for volunteer firefighters, which was state mandated. There’s also an annual contractual contribution to the Apparatus Reserve Fund to replace future firetrucks.

Front Office expenses include salaries for elected officials, attorneys and other professional consultants; liability, medical and disability and workers compensation insurances; and IT support.

State retirement contributions are covered by the office budget line, as are principal and interest payments on bonds, etc.

Highway Department expenses include salaries and insurance; road maintenance and repair work; property and building upkeep; and equipment and vehicle maintenance.

Police Department expenses include salaries, training/certification, retirement; police vehicles and equipment purchase and maintenance.

Water Fund (F-Fund) and Sewer Fund (G-Fund) services are outsourced to VRI; their rates are tied to the consumer price index (CPI), said Collopy, which increased by 6.3%.

The overall water budget (F-Fund) will increase by $339,000 due to a rise in VRI’s expenses, increased energy costs and unexpected spikes in the cost for filter replacements. Water rates will be increased by 50 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used, effective June 1. That’s a 7% increase but it means that all expenses in the water budget will  be covered by the water portion of residents’ quarterly water and sewer bills.

The annual sewer fund (G-Fund) will increase to $375,000, said the mayor. The increase reflects higher energy and administrative costs. The village is also budgeting to replace the pump station and install a generator in south Millbrook. Anticipated revenues will cover the expenses, keeping the G-Fund at its current rates, he added.

Taxpayers who have questions or comments should e-mail Collopy at villageofmillbrookmayor@gmail.com or call  845-677-3939, opt. 5, and are encouraged to attend the public hearing on April 13.