Energy costs cause hike in Monroe town taxes

Monroe - Property taxes in the town of Monroe for 2006 will increase from 2 to 13 percent, depending on where you live. Fuel and energy costs that are projected to jump by as much as 25 percent are the primary culprits. The Monroe Town Board was poised Thursday to adopt a spending plan for next year that would carry an overall decrease in spending of about $73,000. Last year, the town adopted an overall budget totalling $8.7 million, a figure that does not include the $922,500 budget for the Monroe Free Library. The town collects the taxes for the library but the library’s Board of Trustees controls spending. A public hearing was scheduled for Thursday night on the proposed 2006 budget. Overall town spending - again not including the library’s budget - would be $8.659 million. Final figures could change, depending on what happens at the public hearing, before the budget is adopted Nov. 20. Another factor affecting the budget will be next Tuesday’s election, where town of Monroe residents except those living in the Village of Kiryas Joel will vote on a proposal to increase library spending by $124,995 to $1,047,545. Three of the five members of the town board - Supervisor Sandy Leonard and Councilmen Don Weeks and Peter Martin - also are up for re-election, and a fourth member - Councilwoman Lori Currier Woods - is a candidate for Orange County Family Court. Determining how much town taxes a property owner will pay depends on where that person lives. Town residents who live in the villages of Harriman, Kiryas Joel or Monroe pay less taxes because they get services - and a separate tax bill - from the villages. There also are more than two dozen special taxing districts covering things like water, roads, aquatic and other services needed by small communities or neighborhoods which carry their own charges. Estimated taxes That said, here are estimated tax bills, according to the town’s 2006 preliminary budget worksheet: • Owners of a village home with an assessed valuation of $50,000 who are included in the garbage district and library would see their taxes increase 11.2 percent. • Owners of a village home with an assessed valuation of $50,000 who are included in the garbage district but excluding the library would see their town taxes increase 8.2 percent, or by $37.64 to $499.40. • Owners of a town home outside the village including the garbage district and the library would see their taxes increase 4.4 percent, or by $41.78 to $998.05. • Owners of a town home outside the village including the garbage district but excluding the library would see their taxes increase 1.9 percent, or by $15.91 to $865.92. • Owners of a village home assessed at $75,000 including garbage district and library would see their taxes increase 13.5 percent, or $95.27 to $801.47. • Owners of a town home assessed at $75,000 including garbage district and library would see their taxes increase 4.9 percent, or $62.67 to $1,351.25. Inside the budget The town is using $850,000 from its reserves, or fund balance, to offset costs. Among the items contained in the budget is $100,000 to create a road salt capital project. Last year, the town earmarked $165,000 for road salt; the town ended up spending nearly $250,000 because of the vagaries of the weather and depleted its reserves, Martin said. The cost of making rock salt has increased as well as the transportation costs to bring it to the expanded town shed. The $100,000 capital project will be a hedge against future unexpected costs, Martin said. The town budget is based a number of local economic factors, such as revenue from the mortgage sales tax and from the town’s share in county’s sales tax. Last year, the town took in $1.2 million in revenue from the mortgage tax; this year, based on a forecast of new housing starts and resales of existing home, the town is forecasting it will receive $950,000. In addition, Monroe expects to receive $1 million in county sales tax revenue in 2006. That’s a figure based on conversations between the town and the county’s financial people and the fact that the town already has received $675,000 from the county. The town budgeted $750,000 and there’s “another check to come in,” Martin said.