Town of Jay – Public Hearing

Town of Jay – The Town of Jay’s 2013 Tax Levy, amount to be raised by property taxes, will be discussed on November 14^th, 2012 at the 6:30pm Public Hearing to be held at the Town of Jay Community Center Town Board Meeting Room with a Special Town Board Meeting to follow at 7pm in anticipation of passing the proposed budget(s).

 This year, the Town of Jay Board will determine which Preliminary Budget to Adopt, Option #1 or Option #2.

 The Town of Jay, in conjunction with the Au Sable Forks Volunteer Ambulance Service and the Town of Black Brook, hosted a “Public Information Session” on October 25^th, 2012 to discuss the proposed 2013 Au Sable Forks Ambulance Budget Contract between the Towns of Jay and Black Brook.

 Numerous residents from Jay and Black Brook were in attendance, to express their feelings in favor or opposed to the proposed Au Sable Forks Ambulance Contract increase of $85,351. The increase would allow the Ambulance Squad to provide 24/7 coverage, which seems to be in demand. However, this increase will affect both Town’s 2013 Budget.

 The proposed increase to the Ambulance Contract would increase the Town of Jay’s Tax Levy 4.82% in 2013 and without the increase; the Levy would only increase 1.53%.

 In order to accept the proposed budget that includes the Ambulance Contract increase, the Town will be holding a Public Hearing at 6pm, November 8^th, 2012 to authorize the Town of Jay Board to Override the Tax Cap, if indeed it is needed.

 “Supervisor Douglas asked that I prepare (2) Preliminary Budget options for our Town Board to discuss at the Public Hearing on November 14^th, 2012,” said Susan Richards.  Richards further stated, “Option #1 includes the proposed increase of $85,351 to the Ambulance Contract and Option #2 is without the increase, remaining the same as last year.”

 See below our Special Districts and the proposed Tax Levy Difference for 2013. The tax rate for each individual tax payer varies depending on which water, sewer, or fire district they reside in.

 Special District     2012 Tax Levy      2013 Tax Levy         Difference

 Supervisor Douglas said, “I feel that we the Town Board and Budget Officer have put together a very frugal and financially sound budget for 2013.” Douglas further stated, “Town Officials, HWY/DPW Director Chris Garrow and I have worked together under tough conditions to offset the budget while still trying to recover physically, financially and emotionally from Irene. Our employees have seen their first raise in three years!”

 Although the Town of Jay is receiving funding assistance from FEMA and NY State through Project Worksheet documentation submitted, there are still some costs that just aren’t covered. Some expenses don’t fall under their eligibility guidelines. For example, when the Town had to borrow short term Bond Anticipation Notes for $1 Million each, the interest on each BAN was $20,900. This cost times two will be absorbed by the Town. For approximately every $16,000 in the Town Budget, is an increase of 1% on the tax levy. Therefore, the BAN interest alone equates to over 2%.

 Douglas further elaborated; ”Some of the significant impacts on our Town Budget include employer costs such as New York State Retirement and rising health care costs.” New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced in August of 2012 that the Fiscal Year 2013-14 average contribution rate for the Employee Retirement System (ERS) will increase from 18.9% of salaries to 20.9%. In 2007, the Town of Jay’s annual retirement premium was $49,372.00. 2013’s is projected to be $115,791.00. This unfunded mandate has increased 134% in just five years!

 Supervisor Douglas said in his opinion, “New York State made unwise decisions when they relinquished the 3% employee contribution after 10 years of service, as well as unwise decisions investing employee stocks in unstable funds.”

 Health Insurance Rates are expected to exceed 10% this year as well. In just the last five years alone, our premium for our active employees has increased approximately 60%.