Budget Hearing April 5, 2021
BUDGET HEARING 2021-2022
HELD VIA ZOOM and AVAILABLE THROUGH the YOUTUBE LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyFstcqshRUfoPSgKucQuA?view_as=subscriber
ON THE VILLAGE OF BABYLON WEBSITE:
MONDAY, APRIL 5, 2021
PRESENT:
Mayor Mary E. Adams
Trustee Frank Seibert
Trustee Robyn Silvestri
Trustee Dominic Bencivenga
Trustee Anthony Cardali
Village Attorney Matthew McDonough
Village Treasurer Andrew Reichel
Village Clerk Jean Marie Parker
Deputy Village Clerk Jeannine Finelli
The meeting opened at 7:05 PM.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Trustee Seibert.
The Village Clerk read the legal notice:
PLEASE BE ADVISED the Board of Trustees of the Village of Babylon will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, April 5, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. by video conference regarding the tentative budget for the fiscal year 2021-2022. Questions and comments concerning the tentative budget can be emailed to: babylonbudget@villageofbabylonny.gov
Immediately following the Budget Hearing, the Annual Organizational Meeting will be held.
A copy of the tentative budget will be available through the Office of the Village Clerk as of Monday, March 22, 2021 during the business hours of 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, by calling (631) 669-1500. A copy of the tentative budget will also be available on our website, www.villageofbabylonny.gov .
The compensation proposed in said budget for the Mayor is $15,000 per year and $7,500 per year for each Trustee.
Just a reminder to Village Residents: as we periodically put information in our Newsletters and on our Website regarding Stormwater Management updates, Chapters 305 & 306 of our Village Code outline requirements and procedures pertaining to Stormwater Management and Erosion and Sediment control as required by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The required Stormwater Management MS4 Annual Report for the period ending March, 2020* is available on our website as well as through the Office of the Village Clerk. Residents are encouraged to review these documents and if you should have any questions please do not hesitate to call.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY LISTEN TO THE HEARING AND SHALL HAVE 14 DAYS THEREAFTER TO COMMENT BY EMAIL OR REGULAR MAIL DIRECTED TO:
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF BABYLON
153 WEST MAIN STREET
BABYLON, NY 11702
BABYLONBUDGET@VILLAGEOFBABYLONNY.GOV
The Village Clerk commented that after publication of this legal notice we received the Stormwater Management MS4 Annual Report for the period ending March, 2021*, which is now available on our website and by calling the Office of the Village Clerk at (631) 669-1500.
Treasurer Andrew Reichel explained that the budget preparation process followed the same procedure as in the past. The Treasurer and Mayor reviewed the budgets submitted by each of the department heads in January and February and then met several times with the Budget Advisory Committee. The Budget Advisory committee evaluated three different budgets and proposed tax rates based on estimated revenues and expenditures.
This proposed budget has a tax increase of 2.76%, which is still within the New York State tax cap, which allowed for 3.09% for the Village.
The Treasurer gave examples of the amount of increase in taxes [based on the proposed tax rate of 15.65%] for parcels with the following total assessed values:
Total Assessed Value: Dollar amount of Increase:
5,000 $21.00
9,000 $37.80
15,000 $63.00
The proposed budget of $11,042,149 is a decrease of approximately $850,000 from the prior year. Due to COVID, there was a loss of revenue for the Village over several areas, particularly parking meter revenue, parking lot revenue and the Justice Court. The Village has filed for various FEMA monies and grants for reimbursement to offset some of the costs incurred for PPE, cleaning supplies, sanitizing offices, etc., but no money has been received to date. Expenditures have also been tightened up, in particular debt service; a bond payment coming off this year is not being replaced with new bond issue. Another area where costs have been mitigated is worker’s compensation; remaining part of a safety group has helped to keep rates down and enabled us to receive dividends the past couple of years. General liability insurance is being evaluated for possible cost-effective changes. One of the changes to expenditures includes an increase in the rate for the employee retirement system, which is established by the State.
Mayor Adams thanked Andrew Reichel for his time and effort in preparing this budget. The Mayor also commended the Court Office for making many adjustments in order to hold Court virtually, and the Treasurer for holding a virtual tax lien sale. The Mayor emphasized that even though the proposed budget is a decrease from last year, no services will be cut.
The Board thanked the Mayor and Treasurer for a well-presented budget and for staying within the tax cap without cutting any services.
On the motion of Trustee Seibert, seconded by Trustee Cardali and unanimously carried, it was
RESOLVED to reserve decision.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:19 PM.
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The following residents emailed questions/comments:
Joan Crockett, 1 Greenmeadow Drive
Anna Laroche, 37 Lighthouse Road
Fernando Moscoso
Kathleen Curtin, 63 Alton Rd.