Proposed 2012 Monroe town budget totals $7 millions

Budget increases 1.57 percent; public hearing set for Nov. 10 MONROE — A public on the Town of Monroe’s $7,057,536 tentative 2012 budget will be held Thursday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m., at the Senior Citizen Center on Mine Road. The amount to be raised by taxes after application of projected revenues and applied fund balance would be $3,791,118. The tentative tax rate for a home in the village is 2.8039 percent. This would mean a $8.74 increase on a home assessed at $50,000. The tentative tax rate for a home in the town outside the village is 3.0385 percent. For a home assessed at $50,000, this would result in a $14.46 increase. These figures do not include charges for special districts - water and sewer. The Fire District and Monroe Free Library taxes are included on the town tax bill. The library budget will be a referendum on the November ballot. The library is seeking a $52,307 increase over its present budget of $1,163,825. The Fire District budget is $1,626,433 which results in a tax rate of 4.11 percent per $1,000 assessed valuation. “Even though we’re under the two percent cap at 1.57, “ Supervisor Sandy Leonard said, “it doesn’t mean there will not be a slight tax increase.” While the budget figures are not final, Leonard said, “It is a fairly responsible budget. “ “So far”, she added, “We haven’t made any increases. We are looking to cut in every department, pretty much. We expect to be saving money on salt for the highway department due to the pro-active melting agent pilot program.” Next year, the town will be making its last payment on the closed landfill on Lakes Road. It is expected to be a big savings to the taxpayer, the supervisor said.