Bath village sharpening pencils for new budget
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - A new radio system for the police department and higher costs for asphalt are only two factors pressuring the upcoming budget plan for the Village of Bath.

Village board members met Tuesday afternoon to review tentative figures for the spending plan. With no changes, the draft budget would increase village expenditures by more than $500,000, according to budget documents released by the village...

That's an unlikely scenario, village Mayor David Wallace indicated, with support from the board.

"Obviously it's not going to be adopted as currently," said Trustee Nancy Becker.

Police chief David Rouse advised board members the police department needs a new radio communications system, which would increase the department's equipment budget from $34,000 to $85,000. Rouse said the current system is old and a potential security threat. "This is an officer safety issue," he said. "It's getting pretty sad.

Street Supervisor Jeff Muller noted the village has not increased its expenditures for asphalt since 1997, when it budgeted $63,000 for the material. Since then, he said, the village's actual expenditures for asphalt have more than doubled to $130,000 - a figure not reflected in the budget plan.

The shortfall is creating a potential problem in street maintenance, according to Muller. "We're falling behind," he said. "We're going downhill."

Separately, Rouse proposed an increase of $60,000 to upgrade parking meters. He also asked for $5,000 for additional hours related to parking meter collections. One individual currently is responsible for maintaining the meters, collecting money from them and writing violation tickets. The maintenance job should be separated from the collection and enforcement responsibilities, Rouse suggested. That would require an additional three hours a day from another individual, which would increase meter-related expenditures from $11,000 to $16,000.

Board members will review the departmental proposals and meet again Feb. 28 for a second budget workshop.