Taxes to rise under new Bath budget
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Bath town board members last week approved a 2007 municipal budget that will raise property tax rates by about 3.2 percent in the town outside the Village and Bath and by 4.2 percent within the Village of Bath. Savona residents will see their tax rates increase by four percent.

The spending plan contains increases in highway spending, with $2 million budgeted for road maintenance, up from $1.8 million in 2006. General, non-highway expenses also are slated to increase, from about $790,000 to $830,000.

Town Supervisor Fred Muller estimated the higher tax rates will increase annual property taxes on a Bath town home valued at $50,000 by $9.40. Properties of the same value in the villages of Bath and Savona will see tax increases of about $5.55. Muller said.

The supervisor said health care costs, which rose by 14 percent, were a driving force behind the higher appropriations. The town also budgeted a 15-percent increase in snow removal expenses and a 3-percent increase in town employee wages.

Muller noted members of the town board did not receive a raise in their annual salaries.

In separate business, the board gave its unanimous goahead to the Village of Bath's future annexation of the 170- acre Mossy Bank Park. While located in the Town of Bath, the park is owned by the village, which is seeking to lower its tax liability by annexing the property within village limits.

The town board's action clears the way for the village to pass a local law formally annexing the park, according to town attorney Michael Squires.

Village Mayor David Wallace has noted the annexation would save the municipality about $3,000 in annual school property taxes; the town traditionally has forgiven the village tax bill, and the Steuben County Legislature earlier this year exempted the Mossy Bank property from future county taxes.

Haverling school officials have warned the village tax revenues will be redistributed among school district residents, whose tax rates would increase by about one cent to reflect the redistribution. A $50,000 home located anywhere in the school district would see a 50-cent increase in its taxes once the annexation takes place.

Village officials have estimated the annexation could save a property owner living in the village about 75 cents on a $50,000 property.