2007 budget totals $112 million
Tax rate to decrease 3 percent
by JESSICA L. FINCH
Associate Editor

 Amherst Supervisor Satish Mohan reported that the 2007 budget will be approximately $112 million with a 3 percent tax rate decrease.

 The Town Board did  not  vote on the budget before the midnight Tuesday deadline thus the preliminary spending plan took effect.

That included Mohan's $110 million tentative budget plus all amendments recorded before the deadline.

Although the tax rate is reportedly going down, residents who had their assessment increased will be paying more per thousand. Mohan said this affects approximately 10,000 homes.
Basically, a house assessed at $100,000 will be paying $30 less than last year.

 "There were so many resolutions, I did not know what passed or failed," Mohan said about Monday's meeting where the budget was not adopted before the midnight deadline.

He added that perhaps a live spreadsheet -- as money was added back in due to resolutions --  would have mediated the problem.

In 2007 the town will be collecting  $1 million more from residents than in 2006, but with increases in revenue and use of the surplus, the tax rate is still less than the current year.
The three-and-a-half-hour budget conversation at Monday's meeting was not enough time to finalize a budget.

"I did not know it would take more than five hours (the meeting started at 7 p.m.) or we would have started earlier," Mohan said, adding that  he and council members had requested last-minute amendment changes.

Also, five public hearings were scheduled in addition to an hour of resident comments.
Mohan said missing the  deadline was the same result as if the board had taken a vote to adopt the budget. 

Also known at this time is that the annual reassessment program will not take place in 2007 because funding was reduced.

The Highway Department was granted only the same amount as in 2006 despite requests for additional material and equipment costs.

 Mohan insists that no cuts were made to departments compared to the 2006 budget. As departments review their numbers, following Monday's resolution, updates will be provided.