Village:project has no budget

MASSENA — Town officials have called on the village to supply an itemized budget for the Beach Street community center after seeing the town's share of projected costs there jump substantially in the proposed 2010 spending plan.

But the village says it does not have a budget to give because it does not prepare one, a fact that has raised eyebrows on the Town Council.

While the community center is a joint venture between the town and the village, the village takes primary responsibility for running the facility and sends the town a bill for its share of the cost.

The town contributes $85,000 per year toward a bond payment and splits the annual operating costs according to a formula based on assessed property value. In 2009, the town budgeted $12,000 for its share of the operating expenses but was billed for $17,899. The village paid about $23,000 toward the center's operating costs during the 2008-09 budget year.

When town officials requested an estimate of the town's 2010 contribution, village officials requested $20,951 — a 75 percent increase over the current year's original projections and a 17 percent increase over 2009's actual expenses.

After discussing the issue with village Treasurer Daniel E. Case and Village Administrator Everett E. Basford, town officials discovered the village underbudgeted for 2009. Officials based their 2009 projections on the operating costs incurred in 2008, but Mr. Case and Mr. Basford pointed out that the center was open to the public for only part of 2008. That meant the expenses from that year did not accurately reflect the cost of operating the community center in a normal year.

"In the last year, we have also had some unanticipated maintenance costs," Mr. Basford said. "A computer panel on the air conditioner went out. We had to change the automatic flushing toilets back to manual flushers — that was $2,000. There have been some issues you don't budget for."

Mr. Basford also suggested the community is just starting to get a good sense of how much maintaining the property will cost now that it has a full year's worth of bills.

"Until we get through the first couple of years and shake things out, it's going to fluctuate," Mr. Case said.

During a recent town budget meeting, Town Council members questioned the large increase and asked to see an itemized explanation for the increase in cost. But town Supervisor W. Gary Edwards said he was told the village does not prepare a budget for the community center, which it considers a line item in its general fund.

"What do you mean they don't have a budget?" town Councilman Charles A. Raiti asked. "They're asking for town money and they can't tell us what they're spending it on? That's not OK with this councilman."

Councilman John M. Wicke suggested the board press the village for a budget as well as information about the use of the facility by community groups and private organizations.

"Especially if we're going to continue to pay that," Councilman Albert N. Nicola said.

Village officials said they have provided the town with all the information they have to calculate the costs at the center.