Town has budget surplus of $344,000 for first quarter

At this evening's Town Board meeting, the Supervisor presented an oral report on the Town's financial performance for the 3 months ended March 31, 2009.  There was no handout (and nothing yet on the Town website), so what follows is my hastily written notes taken as she spoke.  There was no opportunity given to the public to comment or ask questions.  Attendance was sparse (16 persons - 5 from Kent Fiscal Watch).

First, we should give praise to the Board for this additional innovation - a financial report to its constituents.  Much benefit can accrue to both the Board and to taxpayers if this practice becomes the norm and if additional disclosures are given.  This first report contained some information on how the Board is working to reduce spending; rationalise departments, programs and personnel; and consolidate services with other agencies.  This Board deserves credit for these actions and yet they seem reticent to broadcast their work.

Actual aggregate expenditures for the 3 months were $2,492,390, versus a budget of $2,856,122.  No revenue figures were given (most would be the full year's tax levy, collected in January), but these were said to be less than budget by some $19,000.  Thus the surplus of $344,732 (revenues down by $19,000 but expenditures down by $363,732).

The Supervisor quickly read a list of departments that were under budget for the quarter and I missed noting most of them.  However, Recreation was one and the Police another.  The Central Garage was noted as being overspent for the quarter, but this was explained by the purchase of inventory to be used later in the year and the payment of the full year's insurance in advance.

The Supervisor briefly mentioned that all departments were being audited by the Board and all will be considered for restructuring and elimination of unneccessary programs and/or expenditures at the completion of this audit.  She mentioned that replacement of staff, where occuring, was at lower salaries and that new non-union hires are now required to contribute 20% of their health insurance benefit cost, with the intention to negotiate with the unions for this measure when contracts come up for renewal.  Lower cost health insurance is being sought.  Vendors have been changed for LC Sanitation Special District and lower costs are constantly being sought for purchased goods and services.  Clerical staff in the Garage and Highway departments have been consolidated and reduced.  New revenue is being generated from the lease of the Town's ballfields.

We applaud this report and hope that detailed information will be put out to the public soon.

We also look for an early report on the results for the year ended December 31, 2008 - the annual report to the NY State Comptroller was not filed by the April 1 deadline and an extension to April 24 was requested.