VALATIE - The Village Board reviewed a proposed $706,905 annual budget at a special meeting this week. This budget, for the village fiscal year of June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012 is down $48,000 from the current year's spending.

Mayor Gary Strevell said at the meeting Tuesday evening, April 5, that property taxes would be 10% less under this new budget. “Our objective was to cut taxes by 10% and reduce [them] even more next year,” said Trustee Paul Raihofer.

The board saw a jump in spending between 2009 and 2010, a period the budget jump from just under $700,000 in 2009-10 to $745,699 the following year.

Mr. Strevell said the spike in the budget adopted last year resulted from payments required on capital projects, including road work and a loan for a $600,000 fire truck.

In this budget cycle the board expects to save money from its decision to dissolve the Village Court and from lower interest payments on some loans. The board also removed the position of deputy village clerk and has hired former mayor Jason Nastke, who is also the Republican commissioner of the Columbia County Board of Elections, at a part time rate to do work for the village.

Closing the court last winter saved the village $20,000 in salaries and fees. Mr. Strevell said that the decision to dissolve the court was due to economic concerns and space. They village did not have the proper faculty to house the court. Justice court cases are now handled by the town.

Discussion became heated over the Fire Department  budget. The Valatie Fire Department recently purchased a new ladder truck, and the board decided to put about $10,000 from the Town of Kinderhook designated for the Fire Department  toward paying down the principal on the loan for the truck.

Fire Company President Frank Bevens wanted the funds to be put in a capital fund to be saved for future truck purchase. He said the company may need to replace another truck in the next 10 years, and the village was able to make a substantial down payment on the new truck because of money saved.

Mr. Strevell said he didn't want to be seen as picking on the fire company, but with the prospect of a state cap of 2% on any municipal property tax increase looming in the near future, the board needed to use the money they have now to pay down debt. If there is a tax cap, “we have to think a little longer than one year,” he said of the budget process.

The village is also saving money by selling garbage stickers at the Cumberland Farms store on Route 9. This means no more late office hours on Wednesdays at the Village Hall. Residents can still get stickers, which must be placed on garbage bags for pick-up in the village, at the Village Hall on corner of Main and Spring Streets during regular hours.

Also this week, the board reported that village and town officials toured the Martin H. Glynn Elementary School last month as a possible new site for new village offices. Mr. Strevell said no decisions have been made about using the school, which the Ichabod Crane School District recently decided to close. “The opportunity is being discussed,” he said.

The next budget meeting, which will deal with the water and sewer budgets, will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12, at the Village Hall, before the regular village meeting at 7:30 p.m.

To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .