Delaware County tax increase lessened by about 4 percent

At a special meeting, the Delaware County Board of Supervisors went over possible budget cuts and revenue increases, eventually lowering the increase from 19.42 percent to 15.29.

The changes brought the total levy to $18,840,733, which was $674,384 less than the original projection of $19,515,117.

The tentative 2003 budget total of $74,388,894 was decreased by $106,384 to $74,282,510, which is an increase of 8.17 percent, over the 2002 budget of $68,672,433.

Delhi Supervisor Gary Manning, county budget director, opened the meeting by asking the board members to suggest ways to lower the levy.

Meredith Supervisor Frank Bachler brought up estimated revenues and questioned why the tobacco compensation revenue was listed at $500,000 when it was projected to be closer to $800,000. He also mentioned increasing the sales tax revenue and the interest and penalties on real property taxes revenue from $500,000 to $600,000.

Masonville Supervisor Jack Thomas said, "We have to strive for $1 million, and increasing the real property tax revenue by $100,000 would be 10 percent of what we need."

As other possible increases in estimated revenues were discussed, Walton Supervisor Joseph Hanley said: "If you maximize revenues, you are going to have a 40 percent increase in the levy next year. We have to cut on appropriations in every department and maybe we will have to start with jobs."

Hamden Supervisor Wayne Marshfield said he had a list of possible appropriation cuts. He said eliminating miscellaneous expenses in every department would cut $20,000 and he questioned the $500 appropriation for boat supplies from the sheriff's department budget.

"I have a problem with having a Navy," Marshfield said. "And I have heard that the sheriff's department may start to patrol snowmobile trails. We need road patrols but we don't need sheriff's deputies on snowmobile trails."

Undersheriff Doug Vredenburgh said the boat came from a property seizure years ago and is used to patrol East Sidney Dam. He added that the sheriff's deputies will not be patrolling snowmobile trails.

Hanley finally suggested using the $568,000 sales tax revenue that was set aside for future capital projects to help lower the levy.

After about a two-hour break for the Finance Committee to consider suggestions Manning announced the levy could be reduced by using the $568,000 sales tax revenue and decreasing appropriations in several places. He proposed cuts of $1,000 in the tax acquired property department; $5,000 in the information technology departments equipment expense; and $30,000 in contractual expense. The building department lost $15,000 in equipment funding; the infirmary lost $5,000; and there was a $49,884 cut on the worker's compensation line.

The sheriff's department lost its $500 for boat supplies and Sheriff Tom Mills promised to look for other possible cuts in his budget.

"From where I stand, I think we have to encourage the department heads to committing to come to the public hearing with additional cuts," Marshfield added.

Harpersfield Supervisor James Eisel, board chairman, said, "There may be a little more wiggle room, but there isn't much without getting into job cuts."

Eisel scheduled the public hearing on the budget for 1 p.m. Dec. 4.

The next regularly scheduled Board of Supervisors meeting is at 1 p.m. Nov. 27.