Dryden Village Board votes to adopt 2021-22 budget

The Village of Dryden Board of Trustees officially adopted the 2021-22 budget by a unanimous vote during a special Board meeting last Wednesday.

Village Mayor Michael Murphy, who read off the anticipated numbers of the impending fiscal year, expects general fund expenses to be tabbed at $1,830.825.27. In terms of general fund revenue, the total is anticipated at $1,731,876.

Water and sewer fund expenses are predicted to be at $607,847.19 and $634,558.91, respectively. To cover those expenses, the anticipated revenue for water and sewer is separately set at $539,512 and $638,000.

During the public hearing, prior to the adoption of the budget, one resident asked the Board if there would be a tax increase included. Murphy said there will be no such increase.

“To my recollection, there hasn’t been a tax increase in four to five years,” he said.

Village officials’ salaries will see a 3% increase. Murphy will receive $8,000 for the year, and each of the four Board members will take in $2,000.

Other major salaries in the village include Police Chief Josh Tagliavento ($71,968), who will see his hourly rate go from $33.59 to $34.60; Paul Sabin ($66,539.2), superintendent of public works, goes from $31.06 to $31.99/hour; and Village Clerk and Treasurer Debra Marrotte ($62,233.6) goes from $29.05 to $29.92/hour.

Totals so far for the 2020-21 budget have seen a drop in comparison to predictions, mainly due in part to the coronavirus pandemic.

Like many other municipalities, the sales tax revenue during the pandemic “was one of the major hits in the village,” Murphy said.

Last recorded Feb. 28, the village’s sales tax revenue has added up to $245,205.52. The total puts the village off its $400,000 prediction by $154,794.48. Despite the setback, Murphy said he is confident the sales tax revenue will increase in the village, which is once again set at a $400,000 adopted figure.

“I firmly believe we will bounce back,” he said.

As of March 8, general fund expenses for the 2020-21 fiscal year were at $1,499,939.37, which was $284,313.63 less than the adopted amount ($1,784,253).

General fund revenue for 2020-21 was adopted at $1,664,458, but, as of Feb. 28, about $1,209,253.99 has come into the village.

Water fund expenses stand at $491,624.58, as of March 8, which is $96,730.84 fewer than the $588,355.42 adopted figure. As for the revenue last compiled Feb. 28, only $370,950.20 in payments has been raked in for village water usage. That comes to $244,161.8 less than the adopted total ($615,112).

Sewer fund expenses as of March 8 are at $518,849.05, putting it at $144,681.95 less than the adopted figure ($663,531). The compiled sewer fund revenue in the fiscal year was one of the few positives out of the pandemic, which as of Feb. 28 saw the total at $620,510.18. That figure is $6,510.18 more than the number anticipated ($614,000).

Board members collectively asked if there were any anticipated last-minute changes to the outline of the 2021-22 budget. Deputy Mayor Debbie Fisher added she expects the budget “to stay as is.”

IN BRIEF:

Village of Freeville holding logo design contest

The Village of Freeville Board of Trustees recently announced a competition to design a new village logo to be on its website, letterhead and more.

The contest, which began April 10, will end June 11. A $250 prize will be awarded to the winner.

All participants must be 16 years of age or older at the time of entry. The contest is open to all designers regardless of residence and is open to village board members, employees and families.

Each contestant can send up to three logo designs over the duration of the competition. Entries must be submitted in JPEG format to freevillelogo@gmail.com. For more information, contact Village Hall at (607) 844-8301, or go to the village website at www.freevilleny.org for further details and instructions on the contest.

Town of Dryden to conduct special board meeting Thursday

The Dryden Town Board is holding a special meeting this Thursday at 5 p.m. via Zoom to conduct a New York State Environmental Quality Review on a couple of projects in the area.

The projects include the construction and installation of improvements to the Town of Dryden Consolidation Sewer District in the hamlet of Varna, and the Fall Creek Stabilization Project in the hamlet of Etna.

The Zoom link to the meeting will be available on the town’s website at www.dryden.ny.us.

Upcoming meetings in the area

The Town of Dryden’s next abstract and agenda meeting is set for May 13 at 6 p.m., and its regular board meeting is slated for May 20 at 6 p.m. The Village of Dryden’s Board of Trustees meeting for the month of May is scheduled for May 19 at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall.

For the village of Freeville, its next Board of Trustees meeting will be May 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Village Hall.