Final 2006 numbers still being calculated
October storm cleanup estimated at $14 million
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

According to Town of Amherst Comptroller Frank Belliotti, $4 million is "hard to make go away."

As the town moves toward closing the 2006 books, Belliotti reported some totals to the Town Board on Monday.

"We are nowhere near that amount," he said about being underbudgeted for $4 million.

A few months ago, the number was reduced to $1.5 million, and Belliotti said the figure will most likely be closer to $1 million.

Although the once significant gap has been reduced, he said 2006 will still end with a negative financial impact.

"The budget for the year is completed before the actual results were in for the year," he told the board. "In the case of 2006, there were major areas that were going to be major variances."

In May, Supervisor Satish Mohan said the two major culprits for the $4 million gap were utilities and health insurance.

Belliotti said at $2 million, the utility gap never quite went away even though the prices lowered. At the end of the year, utilities had started to level out and weren't as bad as first thought.

However, health insurance costs remain in excess of more than $1.5 million. Gas and oil prices are estimated at $1.3 million for 2006 but had been budgeted at $1.1 million.

The town is still waiting for FEMA reimbursements for the October storm. Amherst is estimating the storm will cost $14 million - of that, $9 million has already been paid to DRC Emergency Services.

Storm overtime is estimated at $600,000, to be billed to FEMA. That is part of $1.2 million in overtime for the entire year. The town had budgeted $921,000 for overtime.

Belliotti said there were no major changes at the close of the year than what had been expected. Final numbers for 2006 will depend on adjustments from outside auditors.