Town of Dryden’s adopted 2024 budget includes a tax decrease

The town of Dryden recently adopted its 2024 budget, and it comes with a tax decrease.

The 2024 budget is broken down into $12,756,283 in appropriations, $486,503 in unexpended fund balance and $9,920,949 to be raised by taxes and more.

Town Deputy Supervisor Dan Lamb said that the tax rate was 5.39% for the 2023 budget. For 2024, the tax rate has been whittled down to 5.29%, which Lamb said is a 2% tax cut.

“It’s unusual,” Lamb said.

The primary reason for the tax decrease is due to the amount of revenue the town has been able to rake in from various projects “coming to fruition,” Lamb said, which results in a “significant increase” in tax revenue.

According to a breakdown of the town’s 2024 budget, it includes $2,348,831 in estimated revenue. This is an increase of $371,065 from the estimated revenue for the 2023 budget.

Lamb noted that the town received $300,000-$400,000 from Berkshire Hathaway’s project at its suppression station at Borger Station on Ellis Hollow Creek Road. This project included $60 million worth of improvements to clean emissions and clear the station of criteria pollutants.

“It made the air safer for residents,” Lamb said. “Some of these organic compounds that were emitted by the burning of gas there were reduced because of better equipment. We got cleaner air and more tax revenue.”

The town also received $60,000-$70,000 in revenue from area solar farms. Lamb noted it based on the rates of the town’s pilot program for solar energy. The biggest revenue impact came from the solar farms on state Route 13, Lamb added.

Lamb said the town has about 33 megawatts of solar energy.

“This made us one of the largest producers of solar [energy] in New York,” Lamb added.

More revenue means opportunities for the town to invest in other projects, Lamb said. Aside from investing in the ongoing Dryden Rail Trail and Dryden Fiber projects, the town is looking to develop a recreation area, mixed-use housing and more along nearly 70 acres of land behind the town hall.

Because some of the town-owned land is considered wetlands, Lamb said the town hired a consultant to put together a delineation plan. Details on the plan have yet to be determined.

“This development in the town has really helped local taxpayers,” Lamb said. “It allows us a budget that creates enough funds for what we want to do for the town.”

One investment the town will soon make is LED streetlights, Lamb said.

“They’re cheaper to maintain. They provide better light and use less power. It’s a good deal for the town,” Lamb added, noting that the town will install new lights next year.

Lamb noted that the 2024 budget includes a 5% pay increase for all employees.

“We’re paying our employees a better rate because our employees are really the heart and soul of what we do here,” Lamb said. “It allows the town to do our work. We have great employees, and they deserve to be compensated fairly.”

The pay increase was “very important,” Lamb said, noting the currently “tight” job market.

“Finding good staff is a challenge for any organization,” Lamb said. “To retain employees, you need to offer a raise and competitive compensation.”

Companies like the Knickerbocker Advanced Bed Support Systems, which has a manufacturing facility on Hall Woods Road in the town, brought along local jobs, investments, revenue and people interested in moving into the area.

“We’re hoping to grow more as a town and inviting more investment,” Lamb said.

A full breakdown of the 2024 budget can be found on the “Finance & HR” page of the town’s website.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Elected town board member speaks on victory

Christina Dravis joined the town board in January of this year as fill-in. Now, she’ll have the opportunity to take on her first full term.

Dravis, a Democrat, won a seat on the town board on election night. She compiled 2,194 votes, the most of any of the four candidates running for town board.

“It’s really exciting,” Dravis said. “I purposely held back from getting too involved this past year because I didn’t want to start anything I couldn’t finish. I still had 100% attendance at board meetings and made contributions to the committees and task forces I was assigned to, in addition to becoming acquainted with town departments and programs. But I’m now ready to take on more responsibilities, knowing I’ll be on the board for a while.”

Dravis is looking forward to finding more ways to “support and show appreciation” for individuals who make the town of Dryden “the terrific place that it is.”

“This, including but not limited to town employees, first responders, community centers, volunteers and businesses,” Dravis said. “The Dryden Rail Trail and Dryden Fiber projects will hopefully be completed during the next four years, so it’s time to jump into new projects, such as expanding recreational options and affordable housing and attracting new businesses.”

Dravis’s running mate, Spring Buck, had the second-most votes on election night, with 2,112.

Registration open for Shooting Stars program

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department has opened registration for the Shooting Stars program.

Shooting Stars is a co-ed, in-house basketball program that aims to teach kids about basketball basics through games and skill-building activities. Program participants will learn to dribble, shoot, pass and play basketball.

The program is for children in kindergarten through second grade. It will run on Saturdays between Jan. 6 and Feb. 10 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Dryden High School.

The cost for the program is $20. To register, go to drydenrec.recdesk.com.