Heuvelton village budget keeps levy unchanged

HEUVELTON — The village of Heuvelton is proposing a 2010-11 budget that contains no change in the tax levy from a year ago.

"That was our goal," Deputy Mayor Michael P. Hebert said, "to hold expenses to the point that there would be no raise in village taxes."

Mr. Hebert said that board members did "what they could to hold the line," and that with help from various department heads, the goal was accomplished.

Proposed expenditures for 2010-11, at $574,977, are actually lower than the $580,522 budgeted for the current year.

The proposed village tax rate of $10.61 per $1,000 of assessed property is nearly 1 percent lower than this year's $10.70.

Assessed property values within the village have increased, according to Mr. Hebert, which pushed the tax rate down.

"I'm very pleased we can come back with these numbers and still make progress in the village," Mayor Barbara A. Lashua said. "We're moving ahead in these dark days. We need to keep rebuilding the village of Heuvelton."

A decrease of 1.1 percent is proposed for the general fund, largely owing to reduced expenses in personal services.

"We replaced a higher salary with a lower salary," Mr. Hebert said.

Trustee Neil R. Parish said he felt the proposed budget would be well-received at the 6 p.m. April 12 budget hearing in the Oswegatchie Town Hall.