Tentative budget totals $115 million
$6.5 million used from reserves
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The first figures of the 2008 tentative Town of Amherst budget were discussed at Monday's work session, only hours after it was completed.

Supervisor Satish Mohan said the total tentative budget is $115.8 million, a slight decrease from the 2007 budget of $116.9 million.

The tax levy, the amount raised by residents' taxes, also decreased from 73.4 percent to 72.8 percent, or $71.1 million.

"This was done with no layoffs, no services cut," Mohan stated during the work session. "The amount we collect from Amherst residents has gone down; that is real efficiency."

The cut was made possible by taking millions from the general fund. When asked how the tax levy could be decreasing and portions of the budget increasing, Comptroller Frank Belliotti said it's because $6.5 million was taken from the reserve fund.

"That goes toward spending; revenues were $38 million so the budget fell short and the difference was made with the fund balance," Belliotti said.

After taking the $6.5 million, the percent for the general fund drops to 10 percent, a level Belliotti said he is not comfortable with. He would prefer the fund be at 11-12 percent.

"Its not the conservative thing to do ... basically nothing can go wrong," he said, referring to unexpected costs. "He took it down to a level that is a little scary."

Last year, Mohan had used $2.5 million from the general fund toward the budget.

Upon questioning various department heads if that statement was true, all said they had not yet reviewed the tentative budget for cuts. Recreation Director Anne Schiferle said she was still reviewing the tentative budget.

Highway Superintendent Bob Anderson said he could not comment until reviewing his budget. The proposed 2008 budget is $11.2 million, an increase from $10 million this year.

Police Chief John Askey said he reviewed his portion of the budget and said the department is funded for next year.

The tentative budget is just the beginning. In the next few weeks, board members will have the opportunity to submit resolutions requesting changes to the budget.

Mohan said in 2008, the number of employees dropped to 681, down from 691 due to retirements and deaths. He also stated that 65 percent of the budget is payroll, which he plans to review further, as New York State has recorded that 50 percent of its budget is payroll.

"We are 15 percent above the state average … we will keep working in that direction," Mohan said about a reduction.

As the departments review the tentative budget, they will have the opportunity to comment and work with the Town Board on amendments.

"We will work together to an optional situation," Mohan said, adding all services were funded.

Council Member Shelly Schratz requested that the Tuesday, Oct. 9 work session consist of budget discussions. The session will be one day later than normally scheduled, due to the Oct. 8 Columbus Day holiday.

The board set the public hearing for the budget at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22 at Amherst Town Hall, 5583 Main St., Williamsville. The public hearing is being set separate from regular board meetings.

The final step will be to adopt the budget during a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 29, also at Town Hall.

The budget schedule had been altered after the board failed to adopt the budget by midnight, Nov. 22, 2006. By law, the tentative budget and any amendments made became the final budget for 2007.

Last year's tentative budget caused an uproar from departments, as significant cuts were made to their requests.